Indiana Pacers: This player has probably played his final game in Indiana

The Pacers have been relatively quiet in the past 24 hours leading up to the trade deadline. However, with the movement of Kevin Durant it seems that the NBA trade deadline is heating up prior to the final moments.

The Pacers have been linked to many different teams in recent weeks:

• Obi Toppin and the New York Knicks
• OG Anunoby and the Toronto Raptors 
• Jalen McDaniels and the Charlotte Hornets

One of the constants through all of the different rumors seems to be one player could be on the move for the Pacers, mainly, Chris Duarte.

Chris has been having a on and off season so far, but has struggled to stand out amidst a crowded shooting guard rotation. Players like Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin are both outplaying him and getting more minutes in the rotation for the Pacers.

If the Pacers move anyone, Duarte seems to be the likely culprit.

Moving Duarte would alleviate some of the back log at the shooting guard position and the Pacers could bring in a player at a position of need such as at power forward (notice how all of the connections we mentioned earlier seem to fit that role). Because Duarte is only in his second season, multiple teams may be interested in his upside as well as his cheaper contract.

However, the Pacers may have to include draft capital for the trade to work, and as such, would be hopeful to get a much better player that is also not getting time somewhere else (such as James Wiseman).

However, we posit that the likeliest scenario is that Duarte is part of any trade packages that the Pacers put together today to go after another player. The only catch is that the other team has to see the upside, but if they do, Duarte may likely be wearing a different uniform this time tomorrow.