Pacers Hype May Make LeBron James Wish He Was With Tyrese Haliburton

News ArticlePublishedAug 28, 2026 at 05:16 PM EDTThere aren't many teams coming off a rough season that can suddenly make people think they'll have a magical season. But, the Indiana Pacers are getting lots of good buzz ahead of the fresh season, and ESPN's latest projection suggests they could be one of the league's biggest surprise teams.The Pacers landed tied for No. 1 in ESPN's voting for the team expected to make a major leap this season, earning 46 points. That's the same number as the Utah Jazz, putting Indiana firmly at the top of the list. Considering where the Pacers were, that's quite a vote of confidence.More sports: Pistons Hit With Troubling 2026 Projection, But There’s HopeESPN's panel pointed to the chance Indiana has to turn things around after finishing near the bottom of