The Pacers have waived guard Kendall Brown and center Jahlil Okafor, a former NBA lottery pick. Indiana announced the moves in a press release.
Okafor, 28, last appeared in the NBA when he played 27 games for the Pistons during the 2020-21 season.
He was selected by the 76ers in 2015 and spent the first two-plus years of his career there, before being traded to the Nets in December 2017. Part of the return included the pick that the Nets eventually used to draft current center Nic Claxton.
He then signed with the Pelicans following the 2017-18 season, spent a couple of years with New Orleans, and signed with the Pistons in 2020.
Detroit traded him back to Brooklyn in September 2021, with the Nets waiving him several days later.
Okafor signed with the Hawks shortly thereafter but was waived before the 2021-22 season began. He then spent a year playing professionally in China and then with the Mexico City Capitanes of the G League last season. He has never appeared in more than 59 games in an NBA season.
Brown is 6-foot-8 and had his two-way contract converted to a standard contract by the Pacers in March. By waiving Brown and his $2.1 million salary, the Pacers now sit $2.5 million below the luxury tax threshold, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
What’s more, this decision significantly improves the chances for Cole Swider to snag the 15th and final roster spot.
Indiana is coming off a somewhat surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals, one year after not making the playoffs.
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