By Rory Maher | at July 30, 2026 8:25 pm
After spending the first three years of his NBA career on a standard contract, former first-round pick Kobe Brown signed a two-way deal to stay in Indiana this offseason. The 26-year-old forward said it was an easy decision to return to the Pacers, according to Forbes contributor Tony East.
“Standard [contract] is always the goal,” Brown said. “But honestly… something in my gut just told me I needed to come back to Indy. And I really wanted to be here. I loved it the last two months I was there.”
As East writes, Brown had a significant role in his 27 appearances with the Pacers, averaging 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.7 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .503/.433/.788. In two-and-a-half seasons with the Clippers prior to being traded to Indiana in February, the former Missouri star averaged 2.3 PPG and 1.5 RPG in 8.1 MPG across 114 outings.
“Just coming from my last team to this team, a whole different world and play style. And just realizing how much I fit into the randomness, basically,” Brown said of the Pacers’ system and how it played a role in free agency. “It’s fun to play, it’s fun to see, it’s fun to be a part of, and I’m just happy to still be here.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
Why are the Heat prioritizing Klay Thompson this summer? And how can they acquire the veteran wing, who’s still under contract (for $17.5MM in 2026/27) with the Mavericks? Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald tackles that question in a mailbag, writing that the Heat want a proven outside shooter to help space the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. As for how Miami can acquire Thompson, Chiang states that the team seems willing to be patient in the hope that the 36-year-old will eventually agree to a buyout with Dallas. Chiang suggests Thompson may have to give up around $7MM in that hypothetical scenario, but he could earn the money back from the Heat, who could offer him a $7MM salary by using part of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Landing in Washington, which is home to one of the largest Nigerian and African communities in the U.S., was a great match for Felix Okpara, per Colin Udoh of ESPN.com. The ex-Tennessee big man, an NBA Africa alum, is from Nigeria and several players drafted this year have Nigerian heritage, Udoh notes. “It says a lot,” said Okpara, who was selected 46th overall. “Basketball is growing really fast in Africa. We need more people investing in kids across the continent and giving them opportunities to show their talent and chase their dreams. There are so many talented players in Africa that nobody knows about. I think we’re showing there’s still so much more talent waiting to be discovered.”
The Pistons didn’t land any star players in free agency or on the trade market this offseason, but they attempted to lure a handful of big names to Detroit, Vincent Goodwill of ESPN said on NBA Today (Twitter video link). “***Cade Cunningham** was very involved in potential recruitment of Austin Reaves, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving. Those were all names the Pistons were interested in*.” Retaining restricted free agent center Jalen Duren and signing Ausar Thompson to a rookie scale extension remain Detroit’s top priorities for the rest of the offseason, Goodwill added.
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