ESPN proposes interesting Indiana Pacers-Portland Trail Blazers trade

Will this trade benefit the Indiana Pacers in the long run?

On the surface, this seems like a really sensible trade for the Indiana Pacers. Josh Hart is a very good role player with a niche as an all-around, two-way cog who can function as a secondary playmaker, primary perimeter defender, and situational scorer. His read-and-react play style meshes well with the team’s spontaneous offensive design.

Oh, and have we talked about his rebounding? Hart is a gifted player on the boards for a player of his stature. Watching film also gives you the impression that his rebounds are of the earned variant, instead of forced.

Well, pump the brakes! Hart is under contract until next season, but only if he picks up his player option. That makes him a legitimate rental who could easily be gone during the summer, when more teams are projected to have significant cap space. The Pacers can try to strike an extension wit him, but that will likely not be atop their priority list considering the players they need to re-sign and the team’s more pressing needs.

Ultimately, the Indiana Pacers will probably be much better off holding onto McConnell, who’s been a good on-court contributor and mentor for the younger players, and Duarte, who has been showing signs of turning his season around.