NBA free agency has been underway for a week now, with many players around the league getting paid to stay with their current team or head elsewhere.
A few players from the 2020 NBA Draft class really cashed out this summer, with a few massive contracts being handed out and signed by these draftees from a few years ago.
Perhaps the most talented player of those taken in 2020 who made a fortune during this free agency process was guard Tyrese Haliburton, who inked a five-year deal worth $260 million with the Indiana Pacers.
On Friday, the newly signed Haliburton made an appearance on NBA Today with Malika Andrews, Richard Jefferson, and Austin Rivers and talked about what his goals are in Indiana moving forward, via NBA on ESPN.
Tyrese Haliburton says it's playoffs or bust for the young Pacers 🏎️ 🙌
"Me personally, I'm just tired of losing. I just want to get in the playoffs."
(via NBA Today) pic.twitter.com/b4x61v1HzP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 7, 2023
Although the Pacers have been a team that many other teams have come to hoping they’d sell off parts of their roster and rebuild, Indiana has accelerated their process of getting back to a potential playoff contender in the Eastern Conference with Haliburton as the team’s undisputed leader.
Along with securing Haliburton’s long-term future with the team, the Pacers also added a few other pieces to the puzzle in Indiana, with the team signing Bruce Brown in free agency and recently trading for Obi Toppin in a deal with the New York Knicks.
Indiana also added some young talent, with the team bringing in rookie forward Jarace Walker in the 2023 NBA Draft at No. 8 overall.
It’ll be interesting to see if the influx in talent and Haliburton getting his future secured will impact winning for the Pacers next season, as the squad is arguably much improved.
NEXT: Tyrese Haliburton Had An Emotional Message After Signing Contract Extension