These two B/R mock trades have the Pacers turning a backup into gold

The Indiana Pacers get even younger and bolster their backcourt

Since getting selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, Coby White has managed to avoid any kind of nosedive. However, that he has managed to stave off any substantial decline may not be enough for a Bulls team looking to cement their spot in the playoff picture.

Lonzo Ball is clearly the desired point guard in Chicago, and while he’s absent due to injury, White is far from being a true distributor. So far, the combo guard has only peaked at 4.8 assists per game, a mark he only reached during the 2020-21 season when he was a full-time starter. Even without Ball, he has only been relegated to second-unit duty, and that makes him a lot more dispensable, especially with the Bulls badly needing secondary facilitation.

This is where TJ McConnell could prove to be an enticing option for Chicago. Even with a healthy Ball and the rising Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls will be well-served having a change-of-pace floor general like McConnell who can push the ball in transition, giving them a much-needed alternative from the constant half-court sets which are heavily dependent on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine’s iso-ball expertise.