8p9s Roundtable: What Will the Pacers Do Before the Trade Deadline?

Are the Indiana Pacers more likely to be buyers or sellers before the deadline?

Donahue: If the Pacers are involved in anything significant, I have to believe it will be as buyers. They are firmly in make-the-playoffs mode, so I would be gobsmacked, if they moved David West or Roy Hibbert for the rebuild pupu platter of cap relief, draft picks, and prospects. They do have a glut of bigs, and they may be willing to move one of Luis Scola, Lavoy Allen, or Ian Mahinmi for wing help or a pick, but injuries will make them cautious.

Furr: The day Larry Legend is a deadline seller while his team is in the playoff race may eventually come, but I can’t see it happening this year. Bird is the kind of guy who abhors losing, and I couldn’t fathom him intentionally making this team worse so it would lose more.

Medworth: They are definitely buyers. The playoffs are still within reach and we know Larry is always in “win now” mode. He’s out there looking for any pieces, big or small, he can add to this team to get back into the playoffs. The one thing that could potentially be sold is the excess of big men on the Pacers bench. I could see Luis Scola being sent in a package deal.

Ochoa: If the Pacers decided to make moves this season, I believe they would be more of a buyer than a seller. I could see the Pacers using upcoming draft picks as trade bait to avoid “selling” premier players. I’m not all that certain that the Pacers will get active before the deadline though.

Washburn: I certainly don’t see the Pacers, an organization that’s allergic to tanking and is pressing hard to make the playoffs, selling anything. It’s unclear whether real assets are available for the Pacers to “buy” right now, but Larry Bird will definitely try to do everything possible to help his team.

Next: Major Moves Ahead?