The clock is officially ticking for the Indiana Pacers on their commitment to the Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis pairing. Following a week underscored by the team at the core of the rumor mill, it may only be a matter of weeks until one or both of them moves on from the Blue and Gold.
That being said, given the multitude of options that the front office could have as they foray into the market to gauge value for both big men, some teams could sneakily shell out fool’s gold to compensate for their lack of assets to make a viable return (like this one).
Thus, which teams could serve as ideal trade partners for the Pacers regarding Turner and Sabonis? Here are four clubs which have the assets to make a generous offer that Indiana could consider engaging in a trade for.
The Charlotte Hornets have some interesting players to field in an offer for one of the Indiana Pacers’ big men
.The Hornets’ interest in the Pacers’ big men has been well-chronicled, not only recently, but in the last couple of years. And with Indy expressing more openness than before to break up the frontcourt pairing, Charlotte could be one of the teams to poach one of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis.
Fit-wise, both centers provide varying, yet equally intriguing skillsets that the Hornets can use. Sabonis can diversify Charlotte’s already-deadly offense with his all-around game, tenacious rebounding, and post proficiency to lessen the pressure on LaMelo Ball to create.
Meanwhile, Turner can function well on their high-motor attack, further enhancing their half court prowess with his three-point acumen, and most importantly, he is one of the best rim protectors in basketball.
On Indiana’s end, the Hornets can field an offer centered on their youngsters like PJ Washington, James Bouknight, JT Thor or Kai Jones, with Mason Plumlee as a salary-matcher. They can also sweeten the pot with premium draft compensation, especially for Sabonis, to pull away from other suitors.
The Indiana Pacers could be interested in the Golden State Warriors’ boatload of young assets
Arguably the best team in the NBA at this juncture, the Golden State Warriors’ title window has officially re-opened after a two-season hiatus. Still, despite bannering a well-rounded roster that can contend, the center position remains a point of improvement for them.
The Warriors’ current center rotation of Kevon Looney, Nemanja Bjelica, and the injured James Wiseman is not so bad on the surface, but it could be a lot better. Forcing themselves into the discussion for Turner or Sabonis would send a strong signal to the rest of the league.
Sabonis will be the perfect big man to serve as another conduit for their offense. On the other hand, Turner could be the perfect stretch five for the Dubs who can collaborate with Draymond Green for a monstrous defensive pairing.
The Pacers should also benefit from engaging with the Warriors on this matter. After all, Golden State can offer to mortgage their talented youngsters like Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody for win-now pieces like Turner and Sabonis.
The San Antonio Spurs could ramp up their rebuild by engaging the Indiana Pacers in a trade
With the San Antonio Spurs well into their rebuild, the Gregg Popovich-helmed squad could seek out a way to catapult them back to relevancy in the tough Western Conference. Given their abundance of mid-tier players, they should be able to field a nice offer and make a play for one of Indiana’s centers.
Despite having Jakob Poeltl on the roster, the Spurs’ ceiling as a team is limited with what they currently have in store, especially with their middling big man rotation. Sabonis would be a massive boost in that position, playing a Spurs-ian style of post scoring and passing, two of coach Pop’s highly sought-after skills from a big man.
Turner looks a bit more gimmicky fit-wise, but his style of play could help San Antonio return to their previously towering units while supplying them with floor spacing and another defensive anchor who can play with Poeltl.
In return, the Spurs could lure the Pacers with draft compensation, as they currently own all of their first-round picks. Players with considerable promise like Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker IV, and Derrick White could also be in play.
The Indiana Pacers could partner with the Boston Celtics for a surprising blockbuster deal
Still on a middling position in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics may eventually decide that their Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown-led squad needs a massive revamp. Despite a coaching change and a slight retooling over the summer, the C’s have yet to truly make a mark and force their way into contention.
With Brad Stevens now at the helm of basketball operations, a blockbuster trade could be brewing in the Beantown. And the Indiana Pacers could be the perfect team to facilitate a big exchange that could benefit both teams.
Between Domas and Myles, Boston will have an opportunity to not only make a big change, but also choose their style of play, as both big men present wildly different skillsets that the Celtics could utilize. Next to Jayson Tatum, Boston could have a more balanced roster by moving away from a highly perimeter-focused personnel.
From Marcus Smart to Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are well-positioned to make a big move for either Turner or Sabonis. The Pacers should consider that as a glaring chance at making a substantial change, which could very well be the first move to punctuate their willingness to truly rebuild—or retool.