Steven Rales has agreed to buy a 15 percent stake in the Indiana Pacers at a valuation of $3.47 billion. 

Rales had already owned five percent of the Pacers, which brings his total stake in the franchise to 20 percent.

The deal includes a possible path to control for Rales should the Simon family ever choose to sell, according to two of the people. That could be the standard “right of first refusal” if the owners ever want to sell, or a “right of first offer,” which gives the buyer an exclusive window to secure a deal before a wider sale process is launched.

The Simon family purchased the Pacers in 1983 for $11 million. 

Rales and his brother are co-founders of Danaher, which has grown via acquisition into a wide-ranging science and technology manufacturing firm. 

The Milwaukee Bucks are the No. 1 seed in the knockout round of the In-Season Tournament in the Eastern Conference and will play the New York Knicks. The Bucks were the East Group B winner, while the Knicks advanced out of East Group B as the wild card.

The Indiana Pacers will host the Boston Celtics in the other knockout round game in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers won East Group A, while the Celtics won East Group C.

Daniel Theis gave up nearly $2.2 million in his buyout with the Indiana Pacers, a source told Keith Smith of Spotrac.

The amount is the same as what Theis will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers once he clears waivers.

The Pacers can now create up to $9.7 million in cap space this season.

Daniel Theis has agreed to a contract buyout with the Indiana Pacers and plans to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers recently lost Mason Plumlee to a sprained MCL and isn't expected to return for several weeks.

Theis had $7.8 million remaining on his $9.1 million this season.

Theis is represented by Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of CAA. Mintz also represents Paul George.

Jalen Smith was taken to the hospital after suffering a head injury during the Indiana Pacers' 132-126 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Smith was knocked down in a collision during the second quarter. The Pacers announced that Smith was taken to the hospital "out of an abundance of caution."

The team did not have any further updates on Smith's condition following the game.

The Pacers next play on Sunday against the Magic. 

The Los Angeles Clippers have interest in trading for Daniel Theis of the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers are open to a trade of Theis, but are in no rush to move forward on a deal.

The Clippers have a need at center with Mason Plumlee out for multiple months.

Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards were two of the leaders of a young United States team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Haliburton said that experience was enough that both young guards want to continue to play for Team USA moving forward.

When asked how he felt about American-born superstars saying they wanted spots on Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Haliburton understood. Even though news that those players want to play this coming summer broke before Team USA was even home from the World Cup, Haliburton said that he and Edwards want to play for their country again.

"We all saw when we landed and kind of went our separate ways. And never really talked about it. I just know a lot of that group that was together, especially like me and Ant (Anthony Edwards), us two being two of the younger dudes there, we know that we both want to play for USA moving forward and kind of help, you know, the torch be passed.," Haliburton said. "And it looks like this upcoming year is going to be, you know, the big guys want to play, and a lot of these guys probably want this to be their last run. But I think that me and Ant, we both feel like we were deserving to be on the team, and we would love to be on the team. I don’t even have to ask him, I already know. But it’s not up for us to decide. We’ve got to do what we can. We know we want to be a part of that — continuing what USA does."