Indiana Pacers: 5 under-the-radar players to target before the trade deadline

Indiana Pacers trade target No. 3: Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz

Update: Joe Ingles has been ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL.

The Utah Jazz have cooled off after starting hot this season, now safely in fourth place in the West behind the Suns, Warriors, and the Grizzlies, but they are still a force to be reckoned with, especially at full-strength. However, their lack of tenable defense on the wing positions is still a big concern, giving them a big weakness against athletic 3’s and 4’s come playoff time.

Aside from Royce O’Neale and an aging Rudy Gay, the Jazz rely on average to below average defenders in Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Ingles to defend their counterparts, which is a constant gamble. On the flip side, the Indiana Pacers could interest them in one of their 3-and-D types in Justin Holiday and Torrey Craig, who should give Utah a physicality boost on the wings.

In return, the Pacers could set their sights on Ingles, which is a more realistic target compared to the Croatian ex-Pacer. Ingles is on an expiring contract anyway, so Indiana could view him as a useful rental that they could sign for cheaper if the move pans out in free agency.

The fiery Australian has declined statistically this season, but he remains a reliable secondary gauntlet on offense who can hit open threes and thread difficult passes on the perimeter or on the roll. His defense is not what it was a few seasons ago, but his on-court smarts could far outweigh the cons of having him for the Pacers’ inconsistent and predictable scoring attack.