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5 players the Indiana Pacers can look for in trades this summer

By Jonathan Matthes

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 06: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Josh Hart #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the court during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on February 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 06: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Josh Hart #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the court during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on February 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Victor Oladipo or the Black Panther, I can’t tell…maybe both?
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Victor Oladipo or the Black Panther, I can’t tell…maybe both? /

Who pairs well with Victor Oladipo?

In Oladipo the Pacers have a player who’s at his best with the ball in his hand and initiating the offense.

Vic has four nearly unstoppable shots: One is his hellogoodbye straight drive layup where he just accelerates past any and every defender. Two is his Gumby wrap-around layup thing. Three is his pull-up jumper from the top of the key. Four is his corner three where he’s shooting something like 5 billion-percent on his attempts (I’m kidding it’s actually a mere 64-percent).

To compliment Victor, you’d need a wing who can stretch the floor. Someone who is dangerous off the ball and moves around the court well.

The ideal wingman can’t just be a catch and shoot scorer either, otherwise, that would render him much more defendable. He needs to be able to hurt you on drives. His defense needs to be at least average — he’ll have to guard threes after all — he doesn’t need to be all-world, but he can’t be a liability either.

Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner need a friend, too

Turner and Sabonis are both centers but they pay the position differently. They both run the pick and roll well. However, Turner prefers to hang around the perimeter, while Sabonis is more refined inside. Sabonis is the more consistent rebounder, Turner is the better shot blocker.

They both have a lot of room to continue developing (both are 21 years old) and learn how to collaborate together, something that the pair has yet to master.

The best compliment for them would be a versatile power forward, one with a competent low-post game but also with the ability to stretch the floor. He needs to have the size to battle for the rebounds that Indiana should reel in better but also the agility to guard on the perimeter.

And most importantly the four needs to allow the space for Turner and Sabonis to continue to blossom, meaning he needs to be a confident yet efficient scorer. He shouldn’t need a ton of shots to be dangerous.

Now, one of this means that Bojan Bogdanovic and Thaddeus Young don’t fit these categories. At times they do very well. I’m just saying that if you want ideal compliments for your three best players, this is the recipe. A dynamic off-the-ball wing, and a versatile power forward who has the nose for rebounding.

To identify potential targets I’ve broken them into teams to watch. It’ll highlight the player, why they’d fit and why their current team might move the player.

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