Pacers Juggle Two-Way Player Availability Down Stretch

Indiana has to strategically manage minutes for Jalen Slawson, Ethan Thompson, and Taelon Peter with limited games remaining

Mar. 2, 2026 at 5:47pm

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The Indiana Pacers have a player availability puzzle to put together down the stretch of the 2025-26 season, involving all three of their players on two-way contracts. Jalen Slawson, Ethan Thompson, and Taelon Peter have each been helpful at different points this season, but the Pacers can't have all three active for every game due to two-way contract rules that limit them to 50 games per season. The team will have to strategize how to best deploy their two-way talents during the final months of the season.

Why it matters

The Pacers' ability to manage their two-way contract players will be crucial in determining their competitiveness and development down the stretch of the season. Balancing playing time and availability for Slawson, Thompson, and Peter will be a delicate task as Indiana looks to evaluate their young talent while also remaining as competitive as possible.

The details

The Pacers currently have Slawson, Thompson, and Peter signed to two-way deals. Thompson and Peter have been helpful at different points this season, while Slawson has not yet appeared in a game. Due to two-way contract rules, the Pacers can only have each player active for a maximum of 50 games (or a proportionate ratio based on the number of days left in the season). This means the team will have to strategically manage their minutes and availability, potentially keeping two of the three active in every game and occasionally only having one available. Putting any of the trio in the G League for a few days is also an option, but comes with injury risks.

  • The Pacers have 22 games remaining in the 2025-26 season.
  • Slawson signed his two-way contract earlier today and is eligible for 13 appearances the rest of the way.
  • Thompson was signed on November 30 and is eligible for 10 more games this season.
  • Peter, a rookie, had a rush of games to open the campaign and is allowed to suit up 14 more times this league year.
  • The Pacers' G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, have their final scheduled game on March 26 but currently hold a playoff spot.

The players

Jalen Slawson

A two-way contract player for the Indiana Pacers who has not yet appeared in a game this season.

Ethan Thompson

A two-way contract player for the Indiana Pacers who was signed on November 30 and has been effective, earning a spot in the NBA G League Next Up game.

Taelon Peter

A rookie two-way contract player for the Indiana Pacers who had a rush of games to open the campaign and is continuing to learn what it means to be a professional basketball player.

Rick Carlisle

The head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

Chad Buchanan

The general manager of the Indiana Pacers.

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What they’re saying

“We're trying to save games for him. We want to conserve those games as much as possible.”

— Rick Carlisle, Head Coach, Indiana Pacers

“Two-way guys, your life is a lot of unpredictability of where you're going to be from day to day.”

— Chad Buchanan, General Manager, Indiana Pacers

“He's figuring out what being a professional basketball player is about. It's about being who you are all the time, regardless of make or miss. Just keep playing, just keep staying aggressive.”

— Rick Carlisle, Head Coach, Indiana Pacers

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Navigating the two-way contract rules and managing player availability will be a key challenge for the Pacers down the stretch as they look to evaluate their young talent while also remaining as competitive as possible. The team will have to get creative in deploying Slawson, Thompson, and Peter to maximize their contributions without exceeding the games limit.