Indiana Pacers: One blockbuster trade idea for a new franchise centerpiece

After a relatively exhaustive reign of stagnancy on the player movement front, the Indiana Pacers are starting to show some signs of life in the trade market. While no concrete deal is near completion and just awaiting the hammer, there’s a big chance that the front office eventually moves the needle on that end sometime this season.

A nerdy deep dive into the numbers and a simple grasp of reality, however, present two different stories. While the Pacers are statistically one of the better performing teams in the association, their record is a far cry from their good numbers. Despite boasting the league’s 10th-best net rating, Indiana has a measly 12-17 win-loss card, a record that has them sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference alone.

As the clock starts ticking on their core, the Indiana Pacers should act big and move with conviction

However, all hope is not lost—actually, the Indiana Pacers are far from being a miserable case. Not only have they expressed more openness to move toward rebuilding—a good sign for a franchise that has embraced a fangless pursuit for wins—but the front office has a lot of wiggle room to acquire assets in return for their talented players.

Between Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Caris LeVert and other role players on reasonable deals, the Pacers could pump out a boatload of assets to commence an overhaul. Better yet, Kevin Pritchard and company have built a good reputation over the years for finding gems in the trade market. The tools for a proper ground-up movement are there.

With those in sight, the Indiana Pacers have to move with conviction on the trade front. Here is one blockbuster trade that the front office should consider as they attempt to make a changing of the guards—and a shifting of direction.