Tyrese Haliburton's Ankle Tweak Is Mild and His Achilles Looks Great, but It Matters for Your Fantasy Draft

Tyrese Haliburton missed the Indiana Pacers' preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday with what coach Rick Carlisle described as a mild tweak of his right ankle. The good news came with it: Carlisle said the MRI looked good, the Achilles looked great, and he hopes Haliburton can practice Monday and play Tuesday at Oklahoma City. If not, the target is the preseason finale against Milwaukee on October 16.

For fantasy managers drafting in the final week before the season, this is the kind of news that can move a player's price in the wrong direction. Haliburton is coming back from the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, an injury that cost him the entire 2025-26 season. Any new injury, however minor, invites caution. The details suggest it should not.

What happened

Haliburton hurt the ankle in Wednesday's preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, played at Iowa State. It was his first game action in 472 days. He played 16 minutes and scored seven points in Indiana's 123-112 win, and he was limited in practice Friday before sitting Saturday.

Reports have been clear that the ankle issue is unrelated to the Achilles. At media day, Haliburton had declared himself healthy with no restrictions, and nothing in this week's update changes that assessment.

Why the ankle matters less than it looks

The important part of Carlisle's update is the Achilles. The biggest concern for any player returning from that injury is whether the tendon holds up under game conditions, and the medical staff evaluated it after this ankle tweak and came away encouraged. A mild ankle sprain in preseason is a routine NBA injury. A setback with the Achilles would have been a different story.

The ankle does carry a small amount of risk. Players returning from a major lower-leg injury sometimes compensate in ways that put stress on other areas, and an ankle tweak in the first game back is worth monitoring. But nothing about Carlisle's update suggests that is happening here.

The Pacers are also being cautious for the right reason. There is no benefit to playing Haliburton in preseason games if he is not fully healthy, and the team has every incentive to have him ready for the regular season rather than a meaningless exhibition.

Fantasy draft strategy

Haliburton's fantasy value before the Achilles injury was elite. He was one of the best assist producers in the league and a strong source of three-pointers and steals, with an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio. The question for 2026-27 is how close he gets to that level in his first season back.

The case for drafting him at his current price: The medical news is good, he declared himself healthy with no restrictions, and the Pacers' offense is built around him. If he stays healthy, he is a top-tier fantasy guard. Players whose draft price falls due to minor preseason injuries can be some of the best values of the draft.

The case for caution: Achilles injuries can take time to fully recover from, even after a player returns to action. His explosiveness and minutes may be managed early in the season, and the Pacers might give him rest days on back-to-backs. In head-to-head leagues, those rest days can hurt in key weeks.

The Verdexed view: If Haliburton's draft price drops because of this ankle news, take advantage. The underlying medical information is positive, and the risk is mostly about minutes management, not his ability to play. In roto and points leagues, where total production matters more than weekly availability, he is a strong value. In head-to-head leagues, factor in the possibility of rest days but do not let a mild ankle tweak scare you off.

The Pacers' outlook

Indiana's season depends heavily on Haliburton's health. The Pacers reached the NBA Finals with him at the controls in 2025, and their 2025-26 season without him was a different story. A healthy Haliburton makes Indiana a playoff contender in the East. A limited one changes that outlook.

For betting purposes, the Pacers' win total and playoff odds will be heavily influenced by how Haliburton looks in the first few weeks. Markets have already priced in some uncertainty, and good news on his health could shift those numbers.

What to do in your draft

- Draft: Haliburton at or slightly below his current ADP. The ankle news is not a reason to drop him significantly. - Monitor: Whether he practices Monday and plays Tuesday at Oklahoma City. - Plan for: Rest days on back-to-backs, especially early in the season. - Pacers depth: Indiana's secondary ball-handlers become late-round fliers if Haliburton's minutes are managed.

What's next

Watch Monday's practice and Tuesday's game at Oklahoma City. If Haliburton plays and looks comfortable, the ankle story is over and his draft price should stabilize. If he sits again, the October 16 finale against Milwaukee becomes the next checkpoint. Either way, the most important news, the health of the Achilles, has already been delivered, and it was good.