Now that the Indiana Pacers are transitioning into a full-on rebuild, they'll look to test the trade market with some of their biggest assets.
With the Pacers making franchise cornerstones Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert and Myles Turner available for trade, there shouldn't be any shortage of suitors that'll come calling. As they aim to build their next title contender from scratch, the team will have some big decisions ahead of them.
Considering that a few superstars are already holding out due to internal issues with their current team, this may prove to be a simpler process than the Pacers realize. While they continuously take a free fall in the Eastern Conference standings, it's imperative that they strike while the iron's hot.
That being said, we'll breakdown the three players the Pacers must trade for to kickstart their rebuild.
Best Pacers Trades
3. Ben Simmons
This move might be a long shot for the Pacers, but it is definitely a trade scenario worth exploring as he'd be the perfect young talent that they could build the team around. Under the guidance of NBA champion and world class head coach Rick Carlisle, Ben Simmons could develop into a well-rounded two-way stud that would reinvent himself as one of the league's best players.
His defensive prowess and facilitating are by far his best qualities, and if they can surround him with elite scorers and an athletic supporting cast, then this could wind up being a very successful marriage. In their continued search for promising young talent who's game they could groom and develop, Simmons would be an ideal candidate to become the next face of their franchise.
Brandon Ingram is one of the star's on a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team that doesn't seem like they'll be in playoff contention anytime soon. As one of the NBA's most prolific scorers and a rising star in this league, Ingram would be a perfect trade target for the Pacers to pursue.
His coachability and continued growth and development would benefit the Pacers greatly.
Indiana would also be able to get more young players to follow, as he'd be able to evolve into a superstar that future free agents would want to run with. Under Carlisle's direction, Ingram would become a sound defensive player while continuing to perfect his already electric offensive game that would do wonders for Indiana in the long haul.
Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the fun surprises of the young NBA season and they're only half a game out of the eighth spot in the West standings, D'Angelo Russell may start to fall out of favor in Minnesota due to the emergence of Anthony Edwards. He's one of the best combo guards in the league and can light up the scoreboard while making everyone around him better.
Which is why he's exactly the type of talent they need to trade for. A selfless All-Star that continues to expand and improve his game is the kind of player the Pacers need to bring in and build their team around. If they're seeking a fresh start and a smooth transition, then this is a move that could get them back on track sooner than later.
Follow Us
Subscribe