The Indiana Pacers, in the lead-up to the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, are prime candidates to move up. While they are holding their highest pick yet in more than 30 years, the franchise will be greatly incentivized by moving the needle to obtain a better selection, in light of the relative top-heaviness of the current rookie pool.
One team above them in the order of selection which the Pacers could entice into a trade is the Sacramento Kings. Currently in the midst of the longest playoff drought in history, they have made no reservations pivoting to a win-now mode, as evidenced by their surprise jettisoning of Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis at the trade deadline.
As a result, rather predictably, the Kings were recently linked to Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon. The veteran playmaker, who spent the last three seasons in Indiana, is expected to be traded this offseason, in light of Haliburton’s ascent as the new lead guard in the Circle City.
How could the Indiana Pacers obtain the Sacramento Kings’ 4th pick?
In this trade, the Indiana Pacers send Malcolm Brogdon and the sixth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings for their fourth pick, big man Richaun Holmes, forward Richaun Holmes, and the right to swap with the Kings’ first-round pick in 2024.
Why the Indiana Pacers should pull the trigger
The Indiana Pacers, in their current standing in the 2022 NBA Draft, will still be in the position to select a great prospect, but their options will be quite limited as they are picking at the tail end of the projected tier two in the draft.
By acquiring Sacramento’s fourth overall selection though, they would be in control of their destiny and land the best prospect available outside of the consensus top three. Better yet, if any team in the top-three veers from the projections and passes up one of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero, the Pacers will be the first team to scoop up whoever is still on the board among the three, all of whom should be wonderful fits in Indiana.
In addition, the first-round pick swap in 2024 will be added bonus for the Pacers, as the Kings have no expendable players to match Brogdon as a trade return. The Kings would be gambling on themselves that they boast a better record than Indiana at that juncture.
Aside from the draft consequences, the Pacers will be clearing up ample cap space and positional logjam by dangling Malcolm Brogdon to the Kings. Richaun Holmes makes only half of Brogdon’s annual salary, and should be much easier to trade later on. Meanwhile, Mo Harkless is only truly a filler in this deal, but he could be a viable role player who fills a position of need for Indiana.
Why the Indiana Pacers should not trade Malcolm Brogdon for the Kings’ 4th pick
While there are valid merits of trading Malcolm Brogdon and the sixth pick for the Kings’ fourth pick, there are equally legitimate reasons why this could potentially be a needless gamble for the Indiana Pacers.
First, the talent difference between Jaden Ivey, Shaedon Sharpe, Keegan Murray, and yes, Bennedict Mathurin, prospects projected by most outlets to be in the immediate tier after the clear top-three, is not heaven and earth. Picking two spots earlier in this case could be the margin between making a safe and guarded pick and banking on sheer upside as a gamble, but the teams above them in that range would also be on the fence as to which prospect to pick in a relatively equal field, giving the Pacers some window to snag their desired prospect even with a lower pick.
Second, Malcolm Brogdon could fetch the Pacers better returns. Indiana’s brass could realistically package him separately to net immediate contributors, aside from making their sixth pick available to move up. The Pacers will be selling themselves a bit short in this deal, because considering the players they would be taking back, this could double as a salary dump move for them, which is a concession of some sorts in view of Brogdon’s fringe All-Star level production and considerable roster control in his contract.
Ultimately, no one can fault the Indiana Pacers for wanting to move up and get better leverage in the draft, but they must move with caution as they should also not overlook the fact that their own assets are coveted by a wide range of teams.