Indiana Pacers: 2 trades to kickstart a much-needed rebuild after recent news

Could this trade end Myles Turner’s long tenure with the Indiana Pacers?

In this trade, the Indiana Pacers send tenured big man Myles Turner to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mason Plumlee, forward, PJ Washington, guard James Bouknight and their 2023 first-round pick, which will have a top-5 protection.

Charlotte has persistently set their sights on Turner, whose style of play simply fits perfectly next to their high-powered offense predicated on pace and three-point shooting. Also, while the Hornets have the highest-scoring offense in the NBA at this juncture, their second-worst defensive rating holds them back from pulling away from the mid tier in the East, and Turner will be a gargantuan boost in that regard.

For the Pacers, this will give them two young cogs who can flourish with more robust opportunities. Washington, who has been usurped by Miles Bridges in Charlotte’s rotation, is a 3-and-D tweener who still has untapped potential. Bouknight, the 11th overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, has barely played this season, but he is an explosive three-level scorer who could break out in a featured role next to Chris Duarte, who could be their main option in a rebuild.