The league was put on sudden notice after an out-of-normal news dropped on Tuesday. On the coattails of a lackluster start to the season with a 10-16 record, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Indiana Pacers are now inclined on moving toward rebuilding, a bolt from the blue for a franchise that has resisted building from scratch since its inception.
Multiple outlets have since divulged that the Pacers are now active on the trade market for three of their starters in Caris LeVert, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner. With Indy struggling to gain much traction in the Eastern Conference, and injuries and inconsistencies pulling the team down the drain, the need for a rebuild has gotten clearer by the day, and this time—the Pacers are seemingly more candid on heeding the call.
Amidst a lifeless start to the 2021-22 NBA season, the Indiana Pacers are reportedly gearing up to pivot toward rebuilding
It remains to be seen how far the Indiana Pacers are willing to pounce to quench an unfamiliar organizational shift to rebuilding, but the next few weeks or months will be indicative of what moves could be in store for them this season. With the trade deadline still relatively far away, the front office will have ample time to evaluate whom they can dangle for future assets to move on with a clean slate.
Fortunately for them, despite touting a middling record, the team consists of multiple win-now contributors who are more than talented enough to fetch back great returns. From attractive draft compensation, up-and-comers, and young players in need of a new situation to prosper, the team’s brass will have a boatload of options moving forward.
In light of all these, here are a couple of trade ideas to kickstart a much-needed rebuild for the Indiana Pacers following the recent string of news around the franchise.
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.
The Indiana Pacers get a haul of future assets for Domantas Sabonis
In this trade, the Golden State Warriors send center James Wiseman, rookie wing Moses Moody, their 2022 first-round pick, and their 2025 first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis.
The Warriors are arguably the best team in basketball so far this season, and adding Sabonis, a do-it-all, polished big man who already has two All-Star nods to his name, will cement them as the clear-cut best team in the league. His defensive shortcomings may give off a dangling impression, but Golden State has the personnel to make up for his weaknesses. On offense, his brilliance in the post and flashy passing from the center position will further amplify the Dubs’ already-merciless offense.
For the Pacers, dangling their All-Star will not make them frown so much, considering that they’re getting back two very high-upside players in Wiseman and Moody, in addition to two first-round picks in 2022 and 2025. If both of those players become as good as advertised, then Indiana’s rebuild could be speedier than anticipated.