With the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline just less than three weeks away, the rumor mill is starting to brew stronger for the Indiana Pacers, which are tabbed to be among the key players in the trading season as important sellers who could swing the fences for many teams, mostly contenders, this season.
Surely, their bevy of bargain contracts should easily attract a lot of suitors. From Caris LeVert and Myles Turner, to role players like Justin Holiday, Torrey Craig, and Jeremy Lamb, the Pacers will not have any shortage of tradeable assets as they attempt to retool on the fly and remain competitive in the East without a complete rebuild.
The trade market could very well be shaped up by the Indiana Pacers before the deadline
Myles Turner was recently sidelined with a foot injury that should keep him on the shelf for the following weeks, and that may affect his trade value. Still, given his skillset, teams in need of a defensive anchor without settling for much of a compromise on offense should come calling for his services.
Meanwhile, in the wake of Turner’s injury, Caris LeVert is pegged by pundits to be the most likely Pacer to be traded before the deadline. He has not been as consistent as hoped for this season, mostly due to injuries, but he remains a flashy three-level scorer who can facilitate and defend a bit.
Riding the trade deadline steam, we grade two separate trade ideas for Turner and LeVert as the Indiana Pacers figure to make some changes to the roster following their putrid 17-29 record so far.
Can the Cleveland Cavaliers field an enticing offer for Caris LeVert and the Indiana Pacers?
In this trade idea from FanSided’s King James Gospel, the Indiana Pacers send guard Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Ricky Rubio, their 2022 first-round pick, and their two 2022 second-round picks via the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs.
Cleveland’s interest in LeVert has been well-documented, especially with them lacking backcourt firepower outside of Darius Garland following season-ending injuries to both Collin Sexton and Rubio. Hence, the bulk of the Cavaliers’ scoring attack has come from their frontcourt, with Garland in the middle of it all.
However, their concentric scoring profile makes them a tier below the East’s true contenders. In the playoffs, they could very well struggle with defenses more resolute on slowing down Garland, their leading scorer and assist man. This is a department where LeVert could flourish as a second fiddle.
In return, the Pacers can secure all of the Cavs’ draft selections this year, alongside Rubio’s expiring contract. Reports have popped up indicating that Indiana’s brass wants two first-rounders or one first-round pick and a young talented player for LeVert, so this offer, while not the end of the world, may end up falling short, especially if there is another team that will be willing to overpay for the shooting guard.
Grade: C+
Will the Indiana Pacers be moved by the Warriors’ collection of young studs for Myles Turner?
In this trade proposal from Bleacher Report, the Golden State Warriors acquire center Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers for center James Wiseman, wing Moses Moody, and forward Nemanja Bjelica.
Turner’s trade value may have had a bit of a damper following concerns over his recent injury, but the Golden State Warriors could still see enough of a value with him in the fold for them to mortgage some of their prized future assets. Their title window is pretty open right now and in the following seasons, and Turner simply augments their chances among the league’s deeper pool of viable contenders.
Really, a serving of Wiseman, the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and Moody, the 14th overall pick in the recent draft who was reported to be in Indiana’s radar prior to selecting Duarte, should be an enticing package of young assets as the Pacers start another round of reshuffling the roster. Concerns on the overlap between Wiseman and Domantas Sabonis ring a familiar, proverbial bell, but both players are in separate timelines and the latter could always be flipped for an even richer package later on.
Meanwhile, Moody has tremendous upside as a versatile two-way wing, and giving him a bigger opportunity with the Pacers could be the impetus for him to unlock his potential, next to Duarte. Also, Nemanja Bjelica is a salary filler who could even end up being a good role player for Rick Carlisle and the Pacers.
The Pacers would get a more robust offer from the same club with Sabonis on the panel, but given Turner’s shaved trade value and better fit, this could be the best offer that Indiana could expect before the deadline.
Grade: B+