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

By Mason Hankins

Jan 19, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) drives the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Lavoy Allen (5) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Pacers won 97-94. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) drives the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Lavoy Allen (5) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Pacers won 97-94. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics
Feb 16, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) and Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) scramble for the ball during the second half at the United Center. Chicago won 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Marcus Smart

Knight and Collison are the clear-cut number one and number two options on the trade market, and their arrival in Indiana would certainly flip the script for the Pacers. Marcus Smart comes in at number three as Boston has expressed their willingness in trading the second year Oklahoma State graduate.

Smart is averaging 10.5 points per game, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds. His frenetic and aggressive style of play could bolster Indiana’s defensive efforts, and he can be assigned some of the toughest guards in the league on that end. His offensive game needs polishing, as Smart shoots a sub-par field goal percentage of 37% and a 3-point field goal percentage of 31%.

Despite those statistics, Smart is one of those players who impacts a game more than the stat sheet indicates. He is a gamer that is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with any team or player in the league. Indiana desperately needs some attitude on defense, and Marcus Smart can also help Indiana return to their past, successful principles of “Blue Collar-Gold Swagger.”

His ceiling is yet to be reached, and adding a budding off-guard that is focused on improvement could reap benefits for years and years to come. The Celtics have expressed interest in a blockbuster trade for Paul George, so if Indiana lands Smart, it may come at a price with many more talented players involved.

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