​INDIANAPOLIS — With their first Las Vegas game just two days away and following a camp designed to ready them for NBA Summer League, the Pacers suddenly find themselves adjusting their coaching staff and appointing a new head coach for the summer league squad. Longtime assistant coach Johnny Carpenter, who led the Pacers’ summer league program throughout camp, has accepted an offer from the Milwaukee Bucks to join their staff as an assistant coach and head of player development. In the wake of Carpenter’s departure, Bryce Taylor—who had been promoted from assistant to head coach of Indiana’s NBA G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, earlier this summer—will assume the role of summer league head coach for the Pacers.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle announced the personnel change through the team’s public relations channels. Carpenter had joined the Pacers ahead of the 2025-26 season, moving over from the Memphis Grizzlies to fill the vacancy created when Mike Weinar left the organization unexpectedly. Carlisle indicated that the team would respond to Carpenter’s exit by promoting from within, thereby ensuring continuity and stability as they prepare for the Summer League slate.
“The Bucks’ offer to Johnny was a clear step up in responsibility and therefore received the organization’s blessing,” Carlisle remarked in the formal release. “We thank Johnny and his family for a great year with the Pacers and wish them the very best.” The transition places Taylor at the helm of the Pacers’ summer league program as the organization looks to maintain its competitive edge while showcasing the depth of its coaching staff.
This personnel shift comes at a pivotal moment, as the Pacers complete their summer preparation and focus on a strong showing in Las Vegas. The new arrangement keeps the coaching staff aligned with the team’s broader development strategy, emphasizing internal growth and continuity. Taylor’s prior experience with the Noblesville Boom provided him with recent familiarity with the organization’s player development philosophy, potentially easing the transition as he steps into the summer league leadership role.
In reflecting on Carpenter’s departure, the Pacers’ leadership underscored the importance of recognizing and supporting opportunities that arise for staff members to advance within the broader NBA ecosystem. The organization’s stance suggests a forward-looking approach, one that values internal promotions and the cultivation of leadership from within the Pacers’ own ranks. As Taylor assumes the head coach duties for the summer league squad, the Pacers will rely on a balanced combination of veteran coaching wisdom and fresh perspectives to guide their development players through the summer competition.
The move to name Taylor the summer league head coach ahead of the team’s Las Vegas debut is expected to shape the Pacers’ approach to player development and evaluation during the summer league period. It also signals that the organization is prioritizing seamless leadership transitions and leveraging its internal talent pool to maintain continuity across its coaching staff. As the Pacers take the court in Las Vegas, the coaching hierarchy will reflect a renewed emphasis on internal advancement and the ongoing commitment to building a robust pipeline of talent within the franchise.