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.
Darren Collison
Let’s bring DC2 back to the Hoosier state. In his two years in a Pacers jersey, Collison averaged highs of 13.2 points per game and 5.1 assists.
The Sacramento Kings are undoubtedly focused on the future of their team, and winning now is not their top priority. With that being said, they are open to trading just about anyone on their roster (i.e. Darren Collison). Collison is still getting significant minutes unlike Brandon Knight, and he is taking advantage of the time.
Over the past five games, the speedy 7-year vet has had three 20-point games, and he is averaging 13.7 points per game. If Collison was shipped back to Indy, the bench would be instantly revitalized, and Jeff Teague would have a steady, proven backup. Indiana could also benefit from Collison’s speed as McMillan increases the pace of play. Indiana is also clamoring for more 3-point shooting, and Collison provides that. He is shooting a commendable 42% from beyond the arc. Also, Collison is a heady playmaker with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.5.
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.
Will Barton
The Denver Nuggets already dealt Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick to Portland for Mason Plumlee and 2018 second-round pick, but they don’t seem to be done yet. Will Barton may be next, as his name has been circulating in trade rumors. The 6’5′ up-and-coming shooting guard is averging 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He is also shooting a career-high 38% from 3-point land to go along with his superior athleticism.
Similar to Marcus Smart, Barton is a rising player whose play has indicated his potential is yet to be reached. He can score the rock from deep and slash to the bucket, defend and make plays for others, and a team can never have too much of that, The Pacers ought to inquire what it would take to bring Barton to “Naptown” and wake this basketball-loving state up with some high-flying, 3-point shooting action.
A player like Barton will help the idea of winning now materialize in Indiana, and add complexity to opponent’s scouting reports.
Wilson Chandler
The Nuggets are actively looking to make moves before the trade deadline, as the likes of Will Barton, Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari and Emmanuel Mudiay have been mentioned in trade talks. Next on that list is Wilson Chandler.
Chandler is on the trade block, and Indiana must explore the options in acquiring the pure scoring veteran. Chandler is putting up a career-high 15.6 points per game and a career-high rebound average of 6.7. This level of production is exactly what the Pacers are missing, and Chandler can fill this urgent need as a starter or off the bench. He can flat out score the ball, and adding a guy that can create his own shot will take a significant amount of pressure off the shoulders of all-star Paul George.
The only reason Chandler is the last option on this list is because he has been in the league since 2007, and has a history of injuries that have hampered him throughout his career. Wilson Chandler’s career is experiencing quite a resurgence this season, and if he can remain healthy, Pacers fans would love to see that continue in Indiana.
Next: The Indiana Pacers Shopping Around Their First-Round Pick
Have any other trade ideas? Let us know in the comments.