Rumors around the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers have been swirling all year. Multiple trade proposals have been all over the internet. It was reported that the Lakers were very close to making a trade for both Myles Turner and Buddy Hield until Jeanie Buss apparently vetoed the whole scenario. Unfortunately, it appears the two franchises may be at somewhat of a stalemate at the moment.
Anthony Davis was reported to potentially have an injury this week, so the Lakers may be more motivated than before to make a trade to stay in the playoff race. The Pacers on the other hand, are starting to look like the team they were predicted to be, and have been on somewhat of a losing streak. There is a chance that the Pacers are finally warming up to moving Turner or Hield if the price is right.
As such, rumors have continued to circulate that move pieces between these two franchises. This week, NBA Analysis Network put together a trade proposal between the two teams that gives up less from the Pacers but also allows the Lakers to keep one of their two tradable first-round picks.
So let’s see the trade and see if it would ultimately be fruitful for the Pacers to consider moving in this direction.
The Pacers move a valuable veteran for more draft capital and pieces.
One of the issues thus far is the Lakers giving up two first round picks in many of the proposed trades between Indiana and the Lakers. This trade solves that by making it a more modest haul on both sides of the equation. The trade goes as follows:
The Pacers move off of Buddy Hield’s contract and maintain flexibility in the upcoming summer while the Lakers get significant shooting come back their way. The Pacers on the other hand get some negligible assets back in Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn, with the real prize being the 2027 first-round pick.
It is unlikely that Beverley or Nunn would even see the floor for the Pacers, but that doesn’t particularly matter. They would be potential buyout candidates or players that can be stashed for future trade pieces.
So what do we think about this trade and whether the Pacers would be smart to do such a deal?
This deal may look okay on paper, but it has it’s drawbacks.
This issue with the trade is how many protections are on the the first-round pick that is coming back from the Lakers. If the pick from LA is unprotected? This deal is probably worth it in that the Lakers will likely be a pretty bad team in five years when Lebron and Anthony Davis are out of their primes (or the league). If the pick is protected? This gets to be a much fuzzier area because both of the returning players are barely good enough to sit on the Pacers’ bench.
The Lakers would be getting a surefire starter that could carry them on nights that AD or Lebron aren’t playing particularly well. He would also be a player that could have some lights-out shooting nights or could heat up to help clinch a playoff series, something that Lebron has needed from teammates time and time again in his career.
Our thoughts?
We give this trade a B+
Overall it’s a net positive for the Indiana Pacers would be able to accumulate even more draft capital and open up playing time for many of their young players.
What do you think about this trade? Is it worth it for the Pacers?