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Potential trades for the Pacers in the new year

By Jacob Lane

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 4: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers goes for a lay up against the New York Knicks on December 4, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 4: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers goes for a lay up against the New York Knicks on December 4, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Basketball Day Indiana Pacers uniform
Basketball Day Indiana Pacers uniform /

The NBA trade deadline is coming up sooner than you think in early February. Are there any trades the Pacers could make to improve their franchise outlook?

I think we can all admit no one saw the Indiana Pacers playing this well this early into the 2017-18 season. In June, President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard dealt his superstar Paul George for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, two players who had been underwhelming in their careers, to say the least. That move led everyone around the league and around the Pacers to believe the strategy for the season would be to “tank” for a high draft and prepare for a complete rebuild.

Fast forward to today and it is Kevin Pritchard who looks like the genius after all. Victor Oladipo is playing out of his mind and likely will be heading to Los Angeles as an all-star for the first time in his career, while Domantas Sabonis is averaging nearly a double-double off the Pacers bench in just his second year in the league.

However, I’ve heard it said that if you’re competing to be in the middle of the pack in the NBA you’re really competing to lose. In a league where tanking is rewarded with high draft picks, and only a few teams are able to contend for a championship, the question must be asked; where are the Pacers going? Are they a “rebuilding” team even though they are likely to finish in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings? Or are they a team that’s going to compete in the playoffs?

It’s apparent to me that another star could be used to pair with the blossoming young duo of Myles Turner and Victor Oladipo, particularly at the point guard position.

Here are several trades that could be made this season to help push the Pacers into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference or at least help prepare them to take the next step into contention.

Remember, all of these trades are hypothetical. There have been no rumors of Indiana pursuing any of the players below.

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