Indiana Pacers: Ranking the 5 best trades in franchise history

The Indiana Pacers aren’t a major market team, and because of this, they often have to find value where it is seemingly little or take advantage of a unique situation. In this post, we look at the five best trades that the Pacers have ever made in their long history in the NBA.

5. The Indiana Pacers acquire a still-effective Chris Mullin

After the 96-97 season concluded, the Pacers were not incredibly talented. They had just come off a 39-43 season with an abysmal offense (20th in the league). Out west was an older veteran player that had multiple gold medals and was a member of the famous “Run TMC” Warriors teams. However, injuries had begun plaguing his career. The opportunity was primed for a trade for Chris Mullin.

The Pacers traded Erick Dampier and Duane Ferrell to the Warriors for the aging star. The following season the Indiana Pacers went to the Eastern Conference Finals with Mullin as a central part of that team. While Mullin took a back seat in his second year, and ultimately was waived after his third year, Mullin played a central part in helping the Pacers become great at the end of the 90s, ultimately leading to an NBA Finals appearance.

However, because of his short time with the Indiana Pacers, the trade for Mullin could not climb higher on this list.