After Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton returned to where he ruptured his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Vincent Goodwill addressed their realistic chances of winning a championship. Haliburton will pair with Pacers' Ivica Zubac for the first time this upcoming season after Tyrese spent 2025-26 rehabbing.

Zubac, who was traded by the LA Clippers at last season's trade deadline, adds a new wrinkle to the Pacers' core, as MacMahon noted, per ESPN's The Hoop Collective podcast.

“I think he's an outstanding defensive anchor. He's not as good of a shot blocker as Myles Turner was for them. I think he's a better all-around defensive player because one really important part of defense is ending the possession, which frequently happens with a rebound,” MacMahon said. “Plus, I just think he's a great communicator. An anchor there. I get the concern with Zubac on the offensive end in terms of fit. Turner was a stretch-5. You can play 5-out with him. Zubac is not a stretch.”

Although Ivica Zubac isn't the same kind of rim protector as Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after helping the Pacers to the NBA Finals, MacMahon sees the upside for the Pacers' upcoming season.

“He's not your high-flying vertical spacer either. He's not gonna be catching a lot of lobs. I do think he's really good in the short roll. I think the basketball-IQ combo of Tyrese Haliburton and Rick Carlisle,” MacMahon added. I think they will figure out the fit with him. I think he's going to really help the Pacers. It might take a little bit of time to figure out the fit on the offensive end.”

After Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle guided his team to an unexpected Finals appearance, ESPN's Goodwill isn't ruling out the veteran coach pulling it off again.

“The way that Carlisle has sort of shape-shifted his own philosophies to the personnel that he has — I didn't see this reinvention of Rick coming, taking a team to the Finals. Overachieving in the playoffs; I didn't see that coming,” Goodwill said. “When I see Zubac, and I see Tyrese Haliburton and the potential of playing in the pick-and-roll, don't forget, Pascal Siakam was an All-Star last year when that team was hot garbage. And he was still playing.

“This is still the bones of the team that went to the NBA Finals and took out some teams on the way to get there. Assuming Haliburton is in shape, I think the chemistry between those two is going to be fine. I think Siakam is going to be fine.”

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If the Pacers find their momentum during the second half of the regular season ahead of the playoffs, as they did in 2024-25, history could repeat itself in 2026-27.

“I do want to remind people: they were up in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but that was a 50-win team,” MacMahon said. “It's not like they won 62 games that year. They surprised people by going to those conference finals. So, I just think you got to keep that in perspective. I do think they had a chance to be a top-5 defense. You talk about Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, Zubac; that's pretty damn strong defensive quartet.”

The Pacers will host Turner and the Bucks in their preseason finale on Friday.