Pacers Waive Guard, Sign G League Star to Deal

Indiana is making a roster change to kick off the new year.

Nov 1, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Details view of the Indiana Pacers logo against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers have made a minor move to kick off the new year.

Indiana announced in a press statement that the team has waived rookie guard Tristen Newton, who has played scantily for the club this season. According to Fieldhouse Files' Scott Agness, Newton apparently wanted to move on from the Pacers.

Indiana drafted Newton with the No. 49 overall pick out of the University of Connecticut this past summer, and subsequently inked him to a two-way agreement. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard cameoed in a scant five contests for Indiana. Across 1.6 minutes a night, the first-year swingman averaged 0.6 points on 16.7 percent field goal shooting and 100 percent foul line shooting and 0.2 assists per. He looked far better playing way more minutes with the Indiana Mad Ants, G League affiliate to the Pacers. In 10 bouts for the Mad Ants, Newton averaged 17.0 points on .424/.414/.688 shooting splits, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 swipes a night.

With the Huskies, Newton won two straight college championships. He was a consensus All-American First Team honoree and the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player during his final collegiate season, 2023-4.

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the team is slated to sign another rookie guard, undrafted former Baylor product RayJ Dennis, to a new two-way deal with the team. Dennis had been toiling with the San Diego Clippers, NBAGL affiliate of the L.A. Clippers, as an affiliate player throughout the season so far. He has logged averages of 16.7 points on .461/.346/.810 shooting splits, 6.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 swipes and 0.6 blocks with San Diego. Dennis has played 16 games with the club. His agreement with Indiana is not official as of this writing.

The 6-foot-2 Dennis is an intriguing prospect, although like Newton he seems likely to be relegated mostly to the Mad Ants, plus occasional Pacers mop-up minutes. The 23-year-old was honored as the MAC Player of the Year and an All-MAC First Teamer while with Toledo. During his fifth and final collegiate season, for Baylor, he was honored with an All-Big 12 Second Team award. Dennis was also named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team for 2023-24.

More Pacers: Rick Carlisle Calls Out Team for Abysmal Blown 19-Point Lead vs Bucks