Pacers Shake Up Roster: Waive Newton, Sign Dennis as New Two-Way Player
The Indiana Pacers kicked off 2025 with some surprising roster moves. They first waived Tristen Newton, the 49th pick from the recent draft, and are set to sign RayJ Dennis to a two-way contract. This decision came swiftly, just hours after Newton played a solid game for the Indiana Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate.
Newton’s departure, while unexpected, may have been influenced by his own preferences, according to reports. The timing is interesting, as he had been performing adequately in the G League, averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in 14 games.
Enter RayJ Dennis, a rookie guard who’s had brief stints with the Wizards and Clippers organizations. Dennis, who worked out for the Pacers pre-draft, brings an interesting skill set to the table. He’s known for his passing ability, ranking ninth in the country in assists per game during his final college season at Baylor.
In the G League this season, Dennis has been putting up impressive numbers, averaging 16.7 points and 6.2 assists per game for the San Diego Clippers. His style of play has been compared to that of Monte Morris - a low-mistake, setup passer type of guard.
Contract Considerations
This move doesn’t impact the team’s salary cap situation, as two-way contracts don’t count against the cap. However, it does raise some interesting possibilities for future roster management, especially considering the upcoming trip to Paris for the NBA Global Games.
The unique schedule surrounding those Paris games - with extended breaks before and after - could potentially allow for some creative contract maneuvering. While purely speculative at this point, it’s worth keeping an eye on how the Pacers might utilize this unusual schedule to their advantage.
Heat Game Importance
Looking ahead, tonight’s game against the Miami Heat carries extra significance. With both teams currently sitting at 16 wins, this matchup could have important tiebreaker implications down the line. Last season showed us just how crucial these head-to-head records can be for playoff seeding.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pacers roster moves and upcoming games, tune into the Locked On Pacers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pacers Podcast:
• James Johnson’s contract situation and potential scenarios
• Detailed breakdown of NBA tiebreaker rules
• Keys to victory against the Miami Heat
