Despite coming down to earth in recent weeks, the Indiana Pacers are still in a great position from the lens of roster-building. After all, even if the team fails to mount a more competitive bid as the season goes on, young cornerstones in the form of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin lead a roster flexible enough to try to win now or build further for the future through trades.
That flexibility, however, has divided fans on what direction the franchise should take. Sure, the Pacers are evidently far from being cellar dwellers as currently constructed, but they are also too raw and flawed to be touted as title threats. Their middling record so far corroborates that, so the front office will have to make some tough yet necessary roster decisions soon.
The Indiana Pacers could look at the Toronto Raptors as an ideal trade partner
Rather surprisingly, the Toronto Raptors have been one of the more disappointing clubs this season. After logging a surprise postseason appearance last season, many had them penciled in as potential wildcards in the East. Instead, the Nick Nurse-led squad seems poised for a lottery finish, with a fire sale interspersed.
The Pacers and the Raptors urgently need more clarity about how they want to tread in the near future. With that considered, here are three trades both teams should consider executing to get away from their middling position.