Pacers sign one player and waive another! Three-time dunk champion McClung released, guard Morris joins Indianapolis

On November 7th Beijing time, reporter Shams reported that the Pacers plan to waive McClung and add Mont Morris. According to Pacers insider Dopirak, Morris is set to sign a one-year non-guaranteed contract.

McClung’s two-year contract for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons is non-guaranteed. The 1.88-meter guard McClung, although rarely playing in the NBA, is well-known to fans for winning the dunk contest three times consecutively. He appeared in 3 games for the Pacers, averaging 11.3 minutes, with 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. His shooting percentages were 38.9% from the field, 20.0% from three, and 75.0% from the free-throw line.

McClung impressed during free agent workouts and signed with the Pacers on October 29th. Clearly, with multiple guards sidelined due to injuries, the team prefers the more experienced Morris to take the point guard role.

The Pacers originally intended to sign Morris during training camp to compete for a roster spot, but a calf injury he suffered at the end of September caused the deal to fall through.

At 30 years old, Morris is about to start his ninth NBA season. He is known for his low turnover rate, boasting a career assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.9:1, which ranks among the league’s best.

In the past two seasons, Morris has been hampered by injuries. During the 2024-25 season, he played 45 games for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 12.7 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game, with shooting percentages of 42.6% from the field, 36.0% from three, and 82.6% from the free-throw line.

If the transaction is completed today and Morris signs the expected minimum salary contract, he will earn nearly $3 million this season, with his contract remaining non-guaranteed until January next year.

As last season’s Eastern Conference champions, the Pacers have been plagued by injuries this season, starting with a poor 1-7 record. Yesterday they lost to the Brooklyn Nets, handing the Nets their first win of the season.