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

Indiana Pacers trade target No. 4: Josh Hart, New Orleans Pelicans

Sans franchise player Zion Williamson, who is yet to log a single minute this season due to injury, the New Orleans Pelicans seem to be headed to the lottery once again, sitting at 12th place in the jampacked Western Conference.

The equally disappointing Indiana Pacers could propose some win-win deals with them before the deadline. Easily my favorite target from this list, Josh Hart is a needle mover from the wing position on both ends of the court who is on a reasonable deal. He may not be a centerpiece for a trade, but if the Pacers endorse Turner on the Pelicans, a dream fit next to Zion, he could be a wonderful asset to have as a return.

After being a one-dimensional defender early on, Hart has found ways to be more of a presence offensively. His rebounding remains elite among players of his stature, but more importantly, his passing (career-high 4.3 dimes per contest) and off-call cutting have improved enough to offset his below-average three-point shooting and less-than-ideal impact without the ball.

With the Pacers in the bottom third of the league on defense, Hart could be a versatile addition to their defensive repertoire, as he can tenably guard all wing positions and smaller frontcourt studs while making the necessary hustle plays that have been simply lacking from the team this season.