Indiana Pacers: 3 players to fix the defense via trade

Lonzo Ball would be a great fit for the Indiana Pacers

Long gone are the days of Lonzo Ball being the laughingstock of the NBA after his early struggles. Since leaving Los Angeles, Ball has been an incredible player on both ends of the floor for the Pelicans and is looking down the barrel of a big contract. The Pacers have two very good guards in the starting rotation already but shipping one of them for Ball might be worth the risk.

Ball is expected to hit free agency as a restricted free agent this summer so a sign-and-trade might be Indiana’s best shot to land him. Otherwise, he will have a pretty strong market in free agency and could have much more say in where he ends up.

At just 23, Ball has already grown so much as a hooper. His three-point shot has become a vital part of his game as he has connected on over 37.5 percent of his attempts in each of the last two seasons, a feat that seemed impossible after he shot just 31.5 percent with the Lakers.

Lonzo also took a massive leap as a free throw shooter in 2020-21. After shooting 48.7 percent from the line in his first three seasons, he converted on 78.1 percent of his attempts last season. That type of improvement shows his work ethic and desire to contribute.

He took over as an offensive threat last season with New Orleans, going for 14.6 points and 5.7 assists in his second season with the team. With his offense becoming a threat, Ball is a very admirable trade chip for the Pacers.

Defensively, Ball is even better. He’s an elite on-ball defender with strong hands that allow him to rip away steals at ease. He has averaged 1.5 steals per game over his entire career while also hovering around 0.6 blocks per game as well. Add in his 5.8 rebounds throughout his career and you have a very reliable defender in the backcourt.

With a much cheaper acquisition price than a player like Ben Simmons, the Pacers should definitely inquire about Lonzo Ball. He would be the perfect addition to the lineup.