Indiana Pacers: Two trade ideas to send Ben Simmons to Indy

The Indiana Pacers gamble for talent and flexibility in a three-team trade

In this second trade package, the Indiana Pacers will acquire Ben Simmons and New Orleans’ 2022 first-round pick which will be top-3 protected while the Pelicans get an ideal partner for Zion Williamson with Myles Turner. In addition, the Philadelphia 76ers get a haul with explosive scorer TJ Warren, swingman Justin Holiday, veteran guard Eric Bledsoe and third-year player Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

For the Pacers, this will be added flexibility while arming the holdover from the core with an intriguing prospect in Ben Simmons. While the price is heavy for Indy, the outgoing players are not indispensable. A hypothetical starting lineup of Simmons-Brogdon-LeVert-Brissett-Sabonis should be explosive and dynamic on offense while being disruptive and interchangeable on defense.

For the Sixers, they get four player who can all contribute significantly. Warren gives them reliable shot creation and should form a potent frontcourt troika with Embiid and Tobias Harris. Justin Holiday should slot in as an experienced 3-and-D guy. Eric Bledsoe’s shooting is streaky, but his defensive chops should round back to form in a defensive-minded team while Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a great asset for added safety blanket for the future.

In the Pelicans’ case, this will be a bold move to finally pair Zion Williamson with a floor-spacing big in Myles Turner who can punish defenders from doubling him and protect the rim to soften the blow of New Orleans’ weak perimeter defense. This also gives them a lot more cushion to trade Steven Adams who has not been the best fit next to the young superstar.