Indiana Pacers: Buy or sell on latest rumors surrounding the team

The Indiana Pacers are interested in a trade with the Houston Rockets involving Eric Gordon and the 13th pick

With veteran coach Rick Carlisle as the new man of the sidelines for the Indiana Pacers, the franchise solidified its intent to maximize its winning window with the current core. After a lost campaign last season which ended in a lottery finish, the Blue and Gold will have the opportunity to bolster its roster in the deep 2021 NBA Draft.

Owners of the 13th pick, the Pacers will almost certainly snag a prospect who can elevate the team’s upside and contribute immediately. However, with the veteran-favoring Carlisle at the helm on the same tangent as the franchise’s current direction, dangling their first-round pick for an established veteran is logical and very possible.

True to this, Indiana reportedly engaged with Houston in trade talks involving the 13th pick and veteran scorer Eric Gordon. After all, Gordon has been one of the most prolific bench scorers in the NBA for quite some time now, even winning a Sixth Man of the Year award back in 2017. In theory, he can be a sparkplug off the bench while slotting in as a starter if injuries arise.

Not so fast. In reality, dangling a lottery pick in this deep draft for Gordon despite his injury history, age, and relative inefficiency in recent seasons is taking one step forward, but two steps back. Even though the team’s in-house alternatives off the bench are legitimate flight risks to leave in free agency, Indiana will be able to accrue more lucrative offers for their lottery selection.

Verdict: Sell on the Pacers trading for Gordon, buy on them being interested in trading the 13th pick