The Indiana Pacers enter this season seeking to come back into the Playoff picture. Last season, they ended up with a 34-38 record and ended up missing the postseason for the first time since 2015. However, their season was also plagued with uncertainty and injury issues, resulting in a trade that saw Victor Oladipo, who was supposed to be one of the leaders of the franchise, leave, and Caris LeVert was brought in.
Now, they come in completely free of any injury issues. This should be the season where the storied franchise comes back into the postseason. Here are two trades that would bring them a step closer.
Potential Pacers Trades
D'Angelo Russell to Pacers; Myles Turner, Jeremy Lamb to Timberwolves
It is clear that the Pacers are missing some real quality in the backcourt. They do have the duo of LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon, but giving Russell the chance to become an All-Star again and lead the franchise would take them to a whole other level. Russell would reunite with former Net teammate LeVert and, incidentally, that is where he was at his absolute best.
It is clear why the Pacers do this – they make a big three that is worthy of a Playoff push. Russell and LeVert provide a ton of scoring from the guard positions, while Domantas Sabonis can do his thing in the paint. Russell had a bit of a down year, playing in Minnesota, and played only 42 games in the season. However, his skill set is up there with the best guards in the game. He can shoot and distribute the ball in a great way, get his teammates involved and be the closer every team needs.
On the other hand, Turner simply did not work out for the best for the Pacers. The former Texas big-man entered the league as a stud, being a defensive and offensive phenom that the team needed from the get-go. However, his numbers have been stagnating and, sometimes, it can just be a change of scenery that completely turns the situation around, both for the franchise and for the player himself.
He can still be a great contributor. He has all the skills on the defensive end to be a great player, as he showed with two years leading the league in blocks, including last year. He still needs to improve on his offensive consistency, since 47.7% shooting from the field is way too low for a center. In Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns and Turner can pair up to lock down opposing big men, as both are great defenders. Lamb would also be a good scoring option on the bench, but Minny does this trade mostly for Turner.
Caris LeVert to Nets; Joe Harris to Pacers
While it might be odd to send LeVert back to the Nets after waiting for him for almost half the season, it is clear why this trade makes some sense. Harris, last postseason apart, is a proven wing scorer and one of the best catch-and-shoot guys in the league. If a team is making a serious Playoff push, as the Pacers should, making this deal to add more reliable wing scoring is a no-brainer.
Indiana makes this trade based on the fact that Harris can ball. He does not need the ball in his hands, so he can wait for Sabonis kick-outs and Brogdon passes off the drive and everyone in the NBA knows that more times than not, he is putting it into the hole from behind the arc. Harris just finished a regular season where he had the best three-point percentage in the league, at 47.5% shooting from deep.
Additionally, Harris is also a capable defender, something LeVert is not, at least not yet. He can also drive well and is smart with his offensive movements, making sure to keep the defense on alert. Harris would slide right in with Turner, Sabonis, and Brogdon, making a defensive four-man line-up that could defend almost any team in the league.
On the other hand, the Nets do this to bring LeVert off the bench. With Harden, Irving, and Durant, first line-up scoring is pretty much set, but the bench needs work. LeVert would be able to make a serious case for Sixth Man of the Year, should this trade materialize. He would have all limits off in terms of taking all the shots with the bench unit and by all assumptions, he would thrive in that role. Also, he had past experiences with Durant and Irving, who both stated that he is a great prospect, even calling him a very important part of the squad, before the trade to acquire Harden.
Should these trades happen, the Pacers would be a potential landmine in the East. Regardless, Indiana should come back to the postseason, where it truly belongs.
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