For the first time in 20 years! Pacers renew their contract with Turner + Mathering, and may hit the second rich line in 2027

The finals are about to come to an end. The Pacers and the Thunder are currently tied 3-3. Both sides will usher in the final battle. No matter which side wins the championship, history will be created.

For the Indiana Pacers, this small market team that is always budget-oriented may have to break the tradition of 20 years - paying luxury taxes! According to Evan Sidery, Pacers management has decided to renew core player Miles Turner this summer and plans to lock in the future of new star Benedit Matherin in advance, which will allow them to cross the luxury tax line for the first time since the 2005-06 season, and may even reach the stricter second-rich line in 2027.

This season, Turner's contract is $19.93 million and he will be a full free agent in the offseason. Although his name has frequently appeared in trade rumors in the past few years, the Pacers have never let go of the team's shot blocker. Now, as the team enters the finals, the management has finally made up its mind to spend money to retain people. According to famous reporter Shams Charania, the Pacers are ready to discuss a new contract with Turner, with an estimated annual salary of between 20 million and 25 million US dollars. If the contract is successfully renewed, the total salary of the Pacers will directly break through the luxury tax line (currently estimated at US$172 million), which is the first time they have actively paid luxury tax in nearly 20 years.

In addition to Turner, the Pacers face another key decision - whether to renew Mathering early. The 2022 No. 6 pick performed well this season, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in the regular season. Although the playoff data has declined (10.4 points, 2.9 rebounds), his breakthrough lethality and outside shooting (36.1% three-point shooting percentage) are still important parts of the Pacers' future plans.

Muserin's rookie contract has the last year left (2025-26 season, $9.19 million), and the Pacers can renew his contract early this summer, with the expected contract amount reaching the 4-year, $120 million level. Once it comes true, the Pacers’ salary structure will face tremendous pressure in 2027.

Halliburton (260 million super maximum salary in five years), Siakam (annual salary of more than 40 million in renewal), Turner (20 million+), and Mathering (30 million+), and four major contracts are combined, which is very likely to allow the team to reach the second rich line (about 190 million US dollars), thus facing stricter salary restrictions

Pacers boss Herb Simon has always been known for his "pursuing budget". In the past 20 years, the team has always avoided luxury taxes and even dismantled the team on the edge of the playoffs many times. But this time the situation is different - they are only one game away from the championship.

In the NBA, "it is difficult to win the championship without paying taxes" has almost become an iron rule. According to statistics, since the implementation of the luxury tax system, 26 of the 44 finals teams are luxury tax teams, and 16 of the 22 championship teams have paid luxury tax.

Once the Pacers renew their contracts with Turner and Mathering, their core lineup (Halliburton + Siakam + Turner + Mathering) will be locked to at least 2027. But the question is: where is the upper limit of this lineup?

Halliburton is the top point guard in the league, but lacks the explosive power of a top scorer;

Siakam is an all-round forward, but he is 30 years old and has doubts about his future state;

Turner is an excellent rim protector, but he relies on three-pointers on the offensive end and lacks stability;

Matherin has great potential, but has not yet proved that he can become a playoff-level star.

If Pacers cannot win the championship in the short term, they may face the dilemma of an explosion in salary but a stagnant record in the next few years, and they may even be forced to dismantle the team and avoid taxes. But at least for now, the management chooses to take a gamble - after all, in the NBA, teams that dare not spend money will never touch the O'Brien Cup.

In the summer of 2025, the Pacers finally took that step - was it a successful bet or a salary nightmare? Time will give the answer.