The Indiana Pacers enter Christmas in rancid fashion, and at this point, interjecting on their puny record is just the tip of the iceberg. With each passing day, it’s becoming crystal clear that the franchise has to make some big changes to the roster if they are truly committed to winning in the present.
In theme with the holidays, we listed down five things that should be atop the Pacers’ Christmas wish list this year. Now, we move on to the player movement front, where Indiana should project to be one of the best-equipped teams to make big in-season changes in this campaign.
Without further ado, here are five trade targets that the Pacers should have on their Christmas wish lists.
Indiana Pacers trade target no. 1: Nicolas Batum
I’ve always had a soft spot for cerebral, versatile players who do not need the ball much to make a winning impact. That’s Nicolas Batum for me. After stinking in Charlotte, in large thanks to the gravity of his albatross contract, the 14-year veteran has found a nice niche with the LA Clippers, effectively being one of their most significant role players.
Part and parcel of what makes Batum so valuable is his basketball IQ. The Clips simply ooze flair and apt decision-making with the Frenchman as one of their conduits on offense. He’s not a threat on one-on-one situations, but he’s an uber-efficient marksman (42.0 percent on threes) and a ball mover who is versatile enough to function as a Swiss army knife on defense, capable of guarding all five positions to varying degree.
The Indiana Pacers would love to have him on the roster as a low-usage 3-and-D type who is not a liability on offense. Trading for him will not be easy, as he will have to be a part of a bigger deal, and the Clippers may value him too much, even if a vastly superior player is the forefront in a return. Still, this is not out of the woods, a possibility that should be on most fans’ Christmas wish lists.
Indiana Pacers trade target no. 2: Jalen Brunson
Dallas’ Jalen Brunson should easily be in the running for one of the best overlooked floor generals in basketball. Playing behind superstar Luka Doncic, his consistent play at the point guard position has been overshadowed.
That, however, makes Brunson all the more impressive. As the Mavericks’ de facto sixth man, Brunson has been logging a career-year so far, norming career-best numbers in points (15.5 per game) and assists (5.3 per outing). The best part? He’s shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and has only turned the ball over 1.6 times on the nightly.
Theoretically, Brunson could give the Indiana Pacers a much-needed boost at the point guard position as he is a natural floor general. Having him will also allow Malcolm Brogdon to play the two more and have a less tedious burden on offense. However, like Batum, it’s unrealistic that the Pacers can get him in a straight swap. A bigger package involving him would be needed.
Indiana Pacers trade target no. 3: De’Aaron Fox
Disclaimer: We are now entering the “grandiose” part of our Christmas wish list.
De’Aaron Fox has long been one of the players on many Pacers fans’ radars, and honestly, can you blame them? The Sacramento Kings’ lead guard is one of the association’s best up-and-coming guards. While his numbers have regressed compared to last season, he remains one of the few young guns who can truly be a foundational piece for a franchise.
Considering recent rumblings, however, the Kings may be actually be warmer to the idea of moving him to balance the roster, especially with Tyrese Haliburton on deck. If true, the Pacers should be among the first teams to engage with Sacramento on a possible deal, most likely in a win-win trade featuring Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
One of the NBA’s fastest players with the ball in his hands, Fox is a bona fide point guard who can run an offense as a scorer and a facilitator (career 6.2 assists per game). He’s not much of a threat from rainbow country, shooting just 31.8 percent on threes for his career, but having him on the roster should immediately boost the Pacers’ ceiling.
Indiana Pacers trade target no. 4: Harrison Barnes
A lot of fans are probably not so congenial to the prospect of acquiring Harrison Barnes, especially when we play the name game. Make no mistake, however, the one-time NBA champion has consistently turned in solid seasons on more featured roles since leaving the Golden State Warriors.
This season, the 10-year veteran is averaging 17.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game for the Sacramento Kings as one of their primary scoring options. It’s easy to envision Barnes fitting in with the Indiana Pacers, especially with the urgent need for the franchise to break up their antiquated frontcourt.
Nabbing Barnes from the Kings could cost the Pacers Myles Turner, or Domantas Sabonis in a bigger package, but on a more visceral look, his scoring prowess, physical tools, and veteran experience could be what Indiana needs if the pivot to embracing modern basketball.
Indiana Pacers trade target no. 5: Jerami Grant
If you’ve read my work before, you should already know by now how much I vie for the prospect of Jerami Grant donning the Blue and Gold. Redundancy be damned, Grant, hypothetically, provides a lot of tasty morsels that should benefit the Pacers in the aftermath of the presumed (or manifested) Turbonis breakup.
While currently injured for the Detroit Pistons (not as big of a red flag, believe me), Grant remains a two-way force who can thrive in both primary and secondary scoring roles, which he proved as a key role player when he was in Oklahoma City and Denver. A natural power forward, the eight-year veteran is easily a perfect fit next to either Turner or Sabonis.
It remains to be seen how willing Detroit is to part with one of their best players, but their youth movement will hardly lag behind without him on the roster. Indiana, meanwhile, should jump at the chance to acquire him, as they are well-positioned to make a handsome offer centered on one of their big men, a position of need for the Pistons.