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

Should the Indiana Pacers make a move for Boston’s Jaylen Brown?

From a quick glance, this is perhaps the best and most realistic avenue for the Indiana Pacers to make a big splash, especially with the Ben Simmons trade front becoming so unpredictable by the literal hour.

Conversely, this proposed deal comes with a lot of benefits for both clubs. Jaylen Brown will allow the Pacers to trot out a legitimate three-level scorer who can defend at a high level, making for a more modern attack with his shot creation. On the other hand, Domantas Sabonis gives the Celtics something they have never had since Kevin Garnett: a post operator who can create for himself on the block, shoot from the perimeter to a degree, and facilitate from all over the floor.

The other parts in this deal are no slouches, either. Marcus Smart is a much-improved playmaker who, next to Malcolm Brogdon who would slide to shooting guard, could form a potent two-way starting backcourt. Caris LeVert replaces Brown’s positional and skillset void in Boston. While not as dangerous, his scoring prowess, when healthy, is uncanny.

Ultimately, given the waning ceiling of the Tatum-Brown Celtics and the looming big changes on the Indiana Pacers’ side, this deal could very well be more than a hypothetical in the following months, especially if both franchises remain where they currently are—stuck in the middle.