As the Indiana Pacers continue to be a relatively surprising bunch so far this season, the likelihood of the team keeping the roster intact has never been this higher as before, when the club was particularly hounded by rounds of trade rumors left and right.
However, if there’s something that everyone can agree on, it’s that the NBA remains a hard-nosed business. Despite the Pacers showing early signs of possible, unprecedented success, penciling them in as an idle team at large as the season goes along is a foolish bet.
The Indiana Pacers are still likely to make a defining trade this season
Aside from possible trades that may transpire on the margins, the Indiana Pacers are still arguably likely to be hot sellers before the trade deadline. After all, the team has more than sufficient cushion to absorb losing most of their win-now veterans without much adverse effect on their future.
Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Daniel Theis, and TJ McConnell are the most likely players to eventually don new colorways before the season ends. All of those players provide particularly in-demand skill sets that should keep teams in pursuit. But this time, as in many times before, let’s zoom in once more on one trade involving Turner that may prove to be too good for the Pacers to pass up.
Two young Warriors studs head to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner
In this trade idea from Bleacher Report, the Indiana Pacers acquire center James Wiseman and forward Jonathan Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors for center Myles Turner and their lottery-protected first-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wiseman, the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, hasn’t quite panned out yet with the Warriors due to injury for the most part. While he hasn’t looked particularly impressive so far in the present campaign, the young big man definitely warrants some benefit of the doubt considering his post-injury resharpening, current role, and sheer upside.
Meanwhile, Kuminga, after a solid rookie season despite being lodged behind the Warriors’ veterans in their championship campaign, has been surprisingly in and out of the rotation so far. He hasn’t been able to crack Steve Kerr’s veteran-heavy groups, but with his freakish athleticism, defensive upside, versatility, and finishing ability, it’s a much safer bet to bank on him flourishing sooner than later.
With all of these taken into account, should the Indiana Pacers pull the trigger on this deal if it comes on the table?
Should the Indiana Pacers agree to this deal if it’s offered on the table?
The idea of trading an expiring contract and a lottery-protected first-rounder in exchange for two, tremendous projects who could easily flourish in a new environment is, sentimental feelings aside, a virtual no-brainer. It’s not common for two high draft selections with obvious upside to become available, much less as returns for a player deemed to be a flight risk.
Between Wiseman and Kuminga, the Indiana Pacers could have a couple of potential franchise cornerstones who present easy fits within the current core.
The former remains an uber-efficient post scorer who can hit the occasional jumper. His defense and intangibles remain so-so at the moment, but his physical gifts are more than enough to turn expectations into an eventual reality. Meanwhile, the latter is a springy, versatile forward who could immediately cover for the team’s lack of length and become a lethal force with his untapped scoring potential.
However, to be quite honest, expecting the Warriors to even put these on the table is a reach. Despite their slow start, Golden State is a safe bet to make the playoffs. And touting one of the smartest front offices in sports, expecting them to simply give up on their meticulously minted young core to take a gamble on a possible one-year rental is inarguable malpractice.
Should the Pacers do this deal if the window for such opens up? Definitely. Just don’t expect the Warriors as currently constructed to simply take an all-out approach to team building at the expense of a massive chunk of their future.