Former Badger Micah Potter just received the dreaded "Thank You" social media post. A graphic that signals the end. Potter has been waived by the Indiana Pacers, and it wasn't because they didn't want him; in fact, Indiana just picked up his option. However, he was the casualty of a cap squeeze when the Pacers needed the money to sign Larry Nance Jr.
The Pacers needed basically exactly what they were paying Potter to get Nance. Potter had a team option of $2.8 million, and Nance counts $2.4 million against the Indiana cap space. To get Nance on the payroll, the spreadsheet indicated Potter as the easiest way to do it. Giving the Pacers about 400K to spare. Not good for the former Badger who was finally stepping into his own.
League sources have confirmed to me that Micah Potter will be waived to complete the signing of Larry Nance Jr.
— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) July 8, 2026
Potter’s contract was for $2.8M, and since the Pacers will be adding Nance Jr. with the veteran minimum, he only counts for $2.4M against the cap.
Saves Indiana 400K. pic.twitter.com/bwSD9wkHTH
Micah Potter was ready for a breakout year with the Indiana Pacers but now needs a new contract
Related: Steven Crowl receives another NBA opportunity as he continues to chase the dream
Potter is about to head into his sixth year in the league, but it was this last season where he really found his stride. He played in 47 games, starting six of them, with 9.7 points and five rebounds per game. His role was mostly to come in off the bench and provide valuable minutes. This season, he saw over 19 minutes per game with a high of 34.
He was already starting to see an increase in his NBA role when he played for the Utah Jazz in 2024-2025. He averaged over 14 minutes per game with the Jazz that season, but his production hadn't quite caught up with his minutes, averaging a measly four points per game. It was the Pacers and maybe Potter's own work ethic that unlocked things for him in 2025-2026. Now he's looking for his next opportunity.
He will command some value as a rotational big in the league, and he should be able to find another contract. Potter was preparing himself to be a free agent this offseason anyway, as he was on a one-year contract with the Pacers with a team option. There was always a chance that Indiana decided not to exercise the option and move on without him. The weird part of this for Potter was that they did choose to initially retain him and pick up the option, only to turn around and cut him to sign Nance.
There's not really a worry that Potter won't find an NBA contract; it will be more about where and for how much. If you want some team predictions of who could swoop him up, look to the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and even a reunion with the Utah Jazz.
Add us as a preferred source on Google