INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers waived center Moses Brown on Monday, ending a short partnership. The Pacers added the big man out of necessity in November but let him go less than three weeks later.
Brown came in during a moment when Pacers starting center Myles Turner was injured and his reserves, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, were sidelined — they are both likely out for the season. Indiana needed some size, so they turned to the seven-foot two-inch Brown.
He played in nine games in total, but many of them were just garbage time appearances. Six of his outings featured less than five minutes of total action — the Pacers typically preferred smaller frontcourt options and combinations.
Why the Indiana Pacers waived Moses Brown
While Brown had a good performance or two, including a 15-point, four-rebound night in a win over the Washington Wizards, his play wasn’t consistently effective enough for Indiana to justify keeping him around. He was taking up a roster spot and had a growing cap hit. Every dollar counts for the luxury tax-conscious Pacers, and Brown wasn’t getting enough playing time to merit his two-year contract, which was non-guaranteed.
This week, the Pacers have four days off in between games thanks to NBA Cup scheduling. They freed up some salary cap wiggle room by waiving Brown during a stretch when they are not playing anyway, and there is a key date coming at the end of this week, too. December 15 is the first day that several players who were signed as free agents in the 2024 offseason can be traded, and the blue and gold now have much more trade optionality after waiving Brown.
“He’s a real rim presence and he attacks the basket,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Brown earlier this. They wanted him to rebound and run. “He’s working at adapting. He’s a great kid. He really appreciates this opportunity.”
The big man averaged 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for Indiana. His best game came against Washington, and he had sold nights against New Orleans and Houston. His rebounding provided a lift.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 24: Moses Brown #3 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the second ... [+] half against the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)Getty Images
Assuming Brown clears waivers on Wednesday, his cap hit for Indiana will be just over $300k this season. That’s not a huge number, but it does matter for the Pacers and their close proximity to the luxury tax — they are about $2.21 million away from the tax barrier after waiving Brown. The big man was needed during the few weeks he was on the Pacers roster, and the peace of mind he provided as a reserve was valuable. But he wasn’t playing enough to justify his spot on the squad.
The Pacers may still need a center, though. They are down to just one in Turner and have been relying on Obi Toppin and Enrique Freeman at the five spot often. When the team plays small, they can pair one of those players with Pascal Siakam or Jarace Walker, but the blue and gold are one injury or foul-heavy night away from being in trouble.
That reality makes waiving Brown a difficult choice, but he didn’t produce in the way Indiana needed. His lack of minutes hurt, and he made just one shot across his six lowest-scoring games. Many of his efficiency and scoring numbers came from a few strong outings — though those games did feature promise and effective play.
“We won’t get beat up on the boards as long as I’m in there,” Brown said of how he hoped to help the Pacers. He knows his best skills are on the glass. “That probably is my main focus.”
Brown came from the NBA G League’s Westchester Knicks, so perhaps he ends up there again. In the meantime, the Pacers will need to find a way to keep filling their center minutes with limited options. The traded market opening up soon could help them.
Indiana’s roster now stands at 14 players. They have the tools to add another cheaper piece, and trade season nears. The Pacers will be on the hunt for reserve centers after moving on from their tallest player.