Indiana Pacers: Re-grading the four-team trade last season involving Caris LeVert

How did the Indiana Pacers fare in last season’s blockbuster trade

After franchise star Victor Oladipo outright rejected a maximum extension from the Indiana Pacers last season, a lot of people were perplexed. While he was dealing with some self-inflicted rounds of alleged non-committal to the team, which eventually turned out to be true, he was fresh off an All-Star status-threatening injury. To get such offer from a conservative small-market is no easy undertaking.

With contractual limbo imminent between him and the Pacers, the front office expertly did the right thing and dangled him away to extract some value in return. And that value turned out to be more than a pacifier, with Caris LeVert, whom Indy acquired in return, effectively replacing Oladipo’s role as the team’s prototypical two-way shooting guard, while sweeteners came in the form of two second-rounders for future flexibility and of course, cash considerations.

LeVert’s tenure started off in a cloud of horror, but with him now fully healthy, the Indiana Pacers can properly claim that they’re one of the biggest winners in last season’s landmark and blockbuster deal, especially with Oladipo struggling with an assortment of injuries in the present (get well soon, VO!).

Grade: A+