8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Indiana Pacers: Correct Move to Stand Pat at the Deadline?

By Colton Bennett

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 1: The Indiana Pacers huddle up during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 1, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 1: The Indiana Pacers huddle up during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 1, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Indiana Pacers were once again non-factors at the trade deadline. Do they have enough to make it out of the first round for the first time in six years?

There was only one Woj Bomb at the trade deadline to feature the Blue and Gold: “No deals for the Indiana Pacers, league source tells ESPN.”

It didn’t even get its own tweet. It was a quote of the OKC Thunder deciding to do the same thing. It didn’t even seem too surprising, there were barely any rumors. The only thing that really came up as the deadline approached was that the end of the bench might be getting a makeover.

Indiana technically made one trade last season, but the last regular season trade that netted the Pacers tangible players was way back in February 2014 when they traded for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen. The Pacers don’t shake up their rosters mid-season. It’s not what they do.

Do you know what else they don’t shake up? The playoffs.

That 2014 season also happens to be the last time Indiana made it out of the first round of the playoffs. They have made the postseason in four of the five seasons since, but were swept twice and amassed only six wins over the stretch.

Indiana takes pride in their consistency, as it should, being able to churn out playoff squads every year with the kind of roster turnover they have had at times is incredibly impressive, but when does running on the treadmill of mediocrity become unbearable?

The Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri had been in the same state- always making the playoffs, but never making a deep run. Guess what they did. They concocted several trades that netted them an NBA title within 12 months. Ujiri made the ultimate gamble by trading the face of the franchise for a player that could very easily (and ultimately did) leave for nothing the next summer. Taking risks is vital when you become stagnant.

This is not to say the Pacers need to trade Victor Oladipo. They just needed to do something. Two solid wings (one being a former Pacer) were traded for a couple bags of chips. One more for a Twix bar. There were players available at low prices, but Indiana watched from the sideline as teams across the conference added pieces.

Sure, it can be chalked up as “waiting until next year when Oladipo is fully healthy to truly make a run.” The same could be said about last season, but what about the season before? Injuries are always going to happen, so playing it safe until everything lines up could leave you spinning your wheels past the team’s window.

Next. Myles Turner's Roles and his Importance. dark

Sure, the Milwaukee Bucks are a behemoth, but biding some time to just get socked in the mouth in April shouldn’t sit right. Being competitive should be about more than just turning out a mediocre playoff team, it should be about being actually preparing to win a title. To do that, one must be willing to tweak a roster so it can actually punch back.

Home/Pacers News