The Indiana Pacers Need A Backcourt Upgrade. Here Are 5 Guards Who Can Help

The Indiana Pacers are searching for more scoring and production off the bench, and there are several guards who are available to fill the void.

With the trade deadline a week away, Indiana has to look in the mirror and realize that they simply do not have the pieces to be the team they strive to be.

In a previous post, I suggested the possible resolutions to the Pacers’ big man demands before the trade deadline, and now it is time to examine the options at the guard position.

It is imperative that the Pacers strengthen their bench as they are 27th in the league in bench production and they also must establish a consistent starter at the shooting guard position. Here are some players who are capable, and available to resolve these pressing issues in Indianapolis.

Brandon Knight

Brandon Knight’s time in Phoenix appears all but over, and he is the top guard option for Indiana to trade for. The Kentucky graduate has shown flashes of brilliance over his 5-year career, but Phoenix is no longer the place for Knight to flourish.

Last season, Knight averaged a career-high 19.6 points per game in 36 minutes and seemed to be peaking. My, how things have changed. The emergence of Devin Booker and a healthy Eric Bledsoe has cut Knight’s minutes to 21.1, and he is averaging a career low 11.0 points per game. He appears to be decimated into nothing more than a trade asset, and it is time Indiana exposes that and deals for the young guard.

Brandon Knight is a full-fledged playmaker, and that is precisely what Indiana is lacking both in the starting lineup and off the bench. The scoring punch that he is able to provide would be crucial to a team that is reeling. He is also 25 years old, and is just scratching the surface as an NBA player. Knight could be a major contributor to Indiana this season, and many more down the road.