Indiana
Quenton Jackson Gets Indiana Pacers Final Two-Way Deal Before Deadline
Washington Wizards guard Quenton Jackson (29) in action during the second half of an NBA basketball … [+]
On Monday, the Indiana Pacers announced that they had signed guard Quenton Jackson to a two-way contract. The 25-year old guard is in his second season in the NBA.
Jackson, who attended Texas A&M and spent three years in the NCAA ranks, had time with the Washington Wizards on a two-way contract last season. He averaged 6.2 points and 1.7 assists per game for the Wizards, and he appeared in nine games.
To be eligible for a two-way contract, a player must have fewer than four years of NBA experience. Because Jackson only has one year of service under his belt, he was eligible for the agreement. Two-way deals are contracts that can be transferred between the NBA and the G League throughout the season, so Jackson will spend time with both the Pacers and their G League affiliate team, the Indiana Mad Ants.
The timing of this deal is related to a deadline. March 4 was the final day that teams were permitted to sign players to a two-way contract, and the Pacers had one such deal available to offer after promoting the contract of young wing Kendall Brown, who was previously on a two-way agreement. Now, the Pacers have a full roster — 15 players are on a standard contract with the team, and three others have two-way deals.
Players on two-way contracts receive half of the rookie minimum for their salary. For a full season, that number would be about $560,000, but Jackson’s deal is prorated to the day he signed his contract.
With Jackson officially signing on March 4, his salary will be roughly $135,000 with the Pacers this season. Players on two-way deals are allowed to appear in 50 games during a full NBA season, and that number is prorated as well. Jackson can be active for 12 of the Pacers final 20 games.
The blue and gold have been all about flexibility and options this season. They kept roster spots open when they needed to and didn’t use their exceptions until late in the campaign. That made it easier to grab Brown on a more favorable deal, and they were able to use the open two-way slot to add Jackson.
“Some of it is trying to keep flexibility with our roster. We wanted to have the ability to maybe look at some other players with our last roster spot,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of his team’s moves and waivers just after the trade deadline.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 08: Quenton Jackson #29 of Washington Wizards takes a shot over Andrew … [+]
Jackson spent his first day in the Indiana organization practicing with the Mad Ants. “I’m just high-spirited, goofy,” Jackson said, per the team. He thinks his energy will fit in anywhere, including with his new squad.
This season, Jackson has been with the Chicago Bulls organization. He played with the NBA club for preseason action, where he appeared in three games, but he was waived prior to the start of the NBA campaign. He landed with the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League.
In 38 outings for Windy City, Jackson averaged 16 points and 5.8 assists per game. As a bigger, scoring guard, he can slot in as an off-ball starter for the Mad Ants once he is up to speed. The Pacers’ G League affiliate team will have a quality guard rotation with Isaiah Wong, Elfrid Payton, and Jackson all getting playing time.
Jackson reached 19 points in his most recent NBA outing, and he averaged 11.3 points per game in his final four appearances for Washington. He has proven to be a good scorer at the pro level — he will hope to grow in other ways with the Pacers.
Wong and Oscar Tshiebwe occupy Indiana’s other two two-way deals. The Mad Ants next play on Thursday, so perhaps Jackson makes his debut in the organization on that date. The Pacers, meanwhile, will have to decide when to use his 12 available games in the NBA — if they use them at all.
Indiana
Fernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit
Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.
“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”
Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.
“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.
Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.
Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.
Indiana
Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured
MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.
According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.
Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.
Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.
Police did not provide any additional information.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.
Indiana
Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick
Candace Parker, Cynthia Cooper share thoughts on Knicks playoff run
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg asks WNBA legends Candace Parker and Cynthia Cooper to give their thoughts on the Knicks hot playoff run.
Sports Seriously
The Indiana Pacers lost 63 games this season for a chance at a franchise-changing lottery pick. On Sunday, May 10, they lost that chance, too.
All Pacers president Kevin Pritchard could do was apologize for taking the risk.
Indiana’s pick landed at No. 5 in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, one spot outside the top four protections attached to a midseason trade. The selection now belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers .
Shortly after the results were announced, Pritchard took social media and apologized.
“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”
The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.
Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.
Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.
“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.”
Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”
There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.
Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.
The 2026 NBA Draft begins June 23 in Brooklyn.
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