The Indiana Pacers have been surrounded in trade rumors this season as they try and navigate what would be best for their future. Whether they decide to make a playoff push or try and trade away assets, the Pacers will have to make a decision as the trade deadline is quickly approaching.
Some new insight from Sam Amico, Senior NBA writer for HoopsWire, may give Pacers fans a better indication of the direction the Pacers are going to choose. Amico outlines three new pieces of information obtained from sources around the NBA. We talk about each piece of information and what it means for the Pacers.
The Pacers may want to clear out some shooting guards
The first insight dropped was that the Pacers are willing and potentially looking for ways to thin out shooting guards for other positions of need. Amico writes that:
"The Pacers are overall pleased with their young roster and how’s it developing, but are open to moving shooting guard Buddy Hield or guard Chris Duarte, sources told Hoops Wire."
The biggest position of need would clearly be power forward, so it is no surprise that they may want to move a shooting guard where they have a multitude of options, including Mathurin who is likely their starter for the future. But what might the Pacers be looking for?
The Pacers are hoping to get a large return for Buddy Hield
While Amico didn’t talk about what the asking price for Chris Duarte would be, he did indicate that the Pacers would want quite a large return for Buddy Hield.
"When it comes to Hield, it appears the Pacers would want a first-round pick as part of a return, sources said."
It comes as no surprise that the Pacers would want a first round pick in return for Buddy Hield. That has been the narrative around Hield since he was included in numerous Lakers trade rumors. The update here is that the Pacers are looking for at least a first-round pick, so they could have a higher asking price. Given how Hield is playing this season (17.6 pts, 5 rebounds, 2.7 ast), the asking price may have been going up all season. Shooting is hard to find in the NBA, when you can get it, you have to pay for it.
However, the biggest piece of information was the third piece of news.
Indiana may have a long-term horizon for Myles Turner
There may have never been a Pacers player in the history of the franchise that has had as many trade rumors about him. That could be coming to an end soon according to Amico, but maybe not in the way that you think.
"Meanwhile, opposing teams don’t expect the Pacers to try to move center Myles Turner before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. “That may be a first since he’s been there,” one rival GM half-jokingly told Hoops Wire."
With a rival GM as a source, it seems that teams are thinking that Turner is part of the long-term plans of the Pacers. If teams are not expecting the Pacers to trade him, it likely means they expect the franchise to extend him. This could mean that Turner has played his way into the Pacers future if he wants it.
Perhaps this time next month we will finally be able to say with certainty that Myles Turner is a Pacers for the forseeable future and will be running the pick and roll/pop with Haliburton for many years to come.