Which big man should the Indiana Pacers trade this offseason?
Rather than letting another head coach fail with a two-big lineup, the Indiana Pacers have to move on from the pairing of Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. While the two are both incredibly valuable players for their own reasons, they have not formed an overwhelmingly powerful frontcourt.
If Indiana is serious about contending in the Eastern Conference, they have to separate the two bigs and find help elsewhere. They desperately lack wing defenders and depth beyond the starting five. With two of the most important bench leaders set to hit free agency, the Pacers could be in an even deeper hole if they are not active in shaping the roster.
Trading one of the centers to clean up other areas on the roster makes the most sense right now. Adding bench guards and wings capable of playing the four spot while keeping Caris LeVert and T.J. Warren in the lineup would hopefully raise Indiana’s ceiling.
There have already been a number of trade ideas tossed around in the early stages of the offseason. The Pacers took a step back last season but have a good enough core to hang with the best of the East.
Do the Pacers value Sabonis’ offensive impact and ability to run the floor from the top of the key more than they value Turner’s impeccable rim protection and defensive flexibility? That’s going to be a difficult decision to make in the coming months. Which player should they trade?