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After failing to squeak past the play-in tournament two seasons ago, the Indiana Pacers failed to build on that performance as they slid down the Eastern Conference standings. Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert were traded before the trade deadline, while Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner incurred injuries for the majority of the season. Thus, the Pacers finished with an abysmal 25-57 record. On the other hand, the silver lining would be having the sixth overall pick in the stacked 2022 NBA Draft.
With the deep and talented class for this upcoming season, Indiana would have a slew of choices in bolstering their roster. These players will still take numerous years to develop and mature at the NBA level, but the front office may decide to add more individuals to supplement the core of Tyrese Haliburton, Malcolm Brogdon, and Chris Duarte. With that, here are three plausible trades the franchise must consider with their sixth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
2022 NBA Draft Pacers Trades
John Collins
Toward the latter part of the season, the Indiana Pacers were heading toward the direction of developing Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson as the future big men of the organization. Both are prototypical big men who bring a ton of energy and effort every night but still lack the polished skills of the experienced big men. Thus, Indiana can add 24-year-old John Collins to play at the four-position which was vacated by Domanatas Sabonis.
From the signed players for next season, the Pacers lack combo and versatile forwards who would complement their youthful bigs. Furthermore, Myles Turner's expiring contract will need to be included in this deal, whether it would be a straight swap with the Atlanta Hawks or a three-team trade. John Collins will have a new home in building incredible chemistry with Tyrese Haliburton through their constant pick-and-roll sets and lobs at the rim.
OG Anunoby
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The 2020 bubble experiment with T.J. Warren was not a sustainable approach for the Indiana Pacers. Warren started sustaining several injuries that forced him to miss the whole 2021-22 campaign so considering acquiring OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors could be a realistic trade. Similar to John Collins, Anunoby is just 24-years-old and would be their best defender in Indiana and possibly open up more opportunities since he would not be with Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes anymore.
If this trade reaches its serious state, the contract of Malcolm Brogdon along with the sixth pick would likely be headed to Toronto. It was obvious they lacked another shot creator when defenses blitz or trap Fred VanVleet so having Brogdon alongside him would be a huge addition to the Raptors. This move addresses the needs of both squads, thus making it a realistic trade in the offseason.
Wendell Carter Jr.
The Orlando Magic executed a brilliant trade with the Chicago Bulls to acquire Wendell Carter Jr. last season. His value in the NBA landscape may not be too high, but his repertoire continues to grow in just his fourth season in the association. He has been one of the most underrated rebounders and effective finishers for the Magic.
Wendell Carter Jr's contract is very team-friendly as his contract extension with Orlando is just four years, $50 million. He will probably exceed his current value by 2025, so the Pacers must constitute a package that could bring him to Indianapolis in the offseason. Moreover, the Magic have the rare opportunity of selecting either Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr. with the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Carter Jr. has also enhanced his outside shooting, meaning he could play alongside Jalen Smith or Isaiah Jackson and become a legitimate threat with his mid-range or three-point bombs.
Indiana is still far from being a consistent threat in the Eastern Conference, especially with the talented bunch in that conference. It could still take 3-5 years for the franchise, but team building starts with small steps and buying low on certain assets that have immense upside. Having coach Rick Carlisle and President Kevin Pritchard as the leaders, the Pacers fans must remain hopeful and optimistic with the core they have built and slowly asking ancillary pieces who would complement them tremendously.
