One trade between the Pacers and Clippers to solve both teams’ woes
Why the Pacers and Clippers should do a Theis-Covington swap
Daniel Theis has been a total non-factor to the Indiana Pacers this season, aside from being a presumably positive locker room presence. Still, even if healthy, it’s doubtful that he can crack Rick Carlisle’s rotation with Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson, and perhaps even Goga Bitadze ahead of him in the depth chart behind Myles Turner.
One of the Pacers’ biggest weaknesses is their lack of size on the wing positions outside of Oshae Brissett, who has primarily played power forward this season. Small-ball is Indiana’s identity, but length will be a prerequisite against the likes of Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and other big-time scoring forwards in the East.
Robert Covington, whom the LA Clippers won’t miss much given their extraordinarily deep cast of lengthy wings, is not the player he once was, but he is still a rotation player who can help the Pacers a ton on the defensive end of the floor. On offense, he remains a viable spot-up shooter who definitely won’t have a shy trigger when open.
Meanwhile, Theis can give the Clippers added insurance behind Ivica Zubac. While they don’t really employ traditional center-manned lineups when Zubac takes a breather, that formula will definitely be challenged when they face the likes of Nikola Jokic in the postseason.
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