Pacers sign, waive former No. 3 draft pick 

The Pacers have signed veteran big man Jahlil Okafor to an Exhibit 10 contract and subsequently waived him, according to a team press release. The team has also waived Kendall Brown.

Indiana’s intention to sign Okafor was reported last month, so it was somewhat surprising it didn’t happen until later in training camp.

Okafor, 28, was the third pick of the 2015 draft and began his career in Philadelphia, but never quite lived up to his draft status.

Okafor has been out of the NBA since the 2020-21 season, when he appeared in 27 games with Detroit. He was traded to Brooklyn that summer and later signed with Atlanta, but wasn’t able to win a roster spot with either team.

Okafor resumed his basketball career overseas, playing in China and Spain before signing with a Puerto Rican team in February. He also spent time in the G League and was among the players selected by Phoenix’s new affiliate at the expansion draft in June. The Pacers’ affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, recently acquired Okafor’s rights in a G League trade.

Okafor will be eligible for a bonus up to $77.5K if he joins the Mad Ants and remains with them for at least 60 days.

Brown had his two-way contract with the team last season converted into a three-year standard contract in March. However, the last two seasons of the deal were non-guaranteed.

He would have received $250K if he had made the opening-night roster. The decision on Brown improves the chances of Cole Swider securing the 15th spot on the roster.

By waiving Brown and his $2.1M salary, the Pacers are now $2.5M below the luxury tax with an open roster spot, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets.