There are many directions that the Pacers could take this offseason as they take stock of all of their assets. One thing they may be able to do is a draft-day trade with some of their picks to try and move up or around in the draft. So what could these trades look like? We investigate what a trade to each team in the top-ten might look like if the Pacers were to go for it.
10. Trading for the Dallas Mavericks’ number ten pick
Dallas is coming off of a terrible collapse at the end of the season after adding Kyrie Irving to their ranks. Because of this, they may feel pressure to improve quickly, especially on defense where they were downright terrible. This trade would allow them to do just that.
Turner would get to go back home to the Lone Star State and the Pacers would load up on a small and power forward for their starting rotation. This would finish out an outstanding starting lineup and allow the Mavs to move up to pick a player they like. We may have to throw in an additional lower first-round pick, but this could be worth it.
9. Utah Jazz go all in on the rebuild
The only thing of real value that the Pacers would want from the Jazz would probably be Lauri Markkanen, who may be tough to pry away from the Jazz. However, if they decide they want to go full-on rebuild, something like this may do the trick.
If the Jazz are interested in going the way of the Thunder or the Rockets and fully “trusting the process”, this would be the route to go. The Pacers would add Markkenan, an All-Star at their position of need. The Jaz would be adding at least one for-sure lottery pick and another in two years that would be unprotected. The players would be for salary match.
The Jazz might ask for another first-round pick (or be unwilling altogether to trade their young all-star), but that depends on how far they believe the young Finnish star can take them.
8. Trading for a potential disgruntled star
Kyle Kuzma was traded to Washington for pennies on the dollar from the LA Lakers and the Wizards have yet to really do anything with his tenure there. With Bradley Beal dragging the entire payroll down, it’s unlikely they will compete soon unless they can get young talent. Enter the Pacers?
The Pacers would trade back one pick in this years draft to bring in Kyle Kuzma. They would send out a young prospect in Duarte to replace Kuzma in the Wizards rotation and two additional first-round picks, one of them unprotected. The Pacers would have to have a good indication that Kuzma would resign with the Pacers or would extend prior to sinking this kind of money into him, but it could be worth it given the quality of player he is quickly becoming.
6. Trading for a liability and pick swap
This is where the Pacers have to start giving up real assets if they want to move up in the draft. One way they could do this, and still come out on top, is to take advantage of players that may still have upside but have some kind of deficiency. Enter the Orlando Magic, who have Jonathan Isaac, a player with promise but with so many injuries and health issues he’s hardly been on the court during his tenure.
The Pacers would essentially be swapping Isaac with Buddy Hield and adding an additional first-round pick in the process for doing so. It would allow them to open up minutes for young guys like Nembhard and Mathurin, while also bringing in a potential upside player in Isaac. It could be worth a try.
5. Pacers trade to jump the Magic this draft
The Pacers could decide they like someone so much, they need to jump the Magic in order to make sure they will get the player they want. Enter the Pistons. The Pacers could package some young assets and a later pick to jump to get the person they want. Perhaps something like this could work.
While it feels that the Pacers are giving up too much, they would be ensuring they could get the guy they wanted at five, while giving up players that may not see much playing time (especially true for Nwora if the Pacers use the #5 to get another high-end forward). Fans may not like it, but moving up in the draft (especially into the top five) costs assets.
4. This one is sure to hurt Pacers fans
This is one that many Pacers fans may cringe a bit at, given how amazing Andrew Nembhard was this year. However, trading up is COSTLY and to do so requires real assets. In this deal, the Pacers would be taking back a young point guard in TyTy Washington for a much higher projected point guard in Andrew Nembhard. Compensation for Nembhard would be moving up 3 spots into the fourth spot of the draft.
Again, this would only be if the Pacers have a player they are REALLY high on in the draft at number four. Otherwise, Nembhard would be too good of a player to move on from after his first season, as he surely is, at a minimum, a rotational piece for years to come on a great contract.
3. Turner finally heads out west, but it’s not the Lakers
If one of the top three picks is gettable, this feels like the one that is possible. Portland is wanting to make some moves in order to get Dame help and the Pacers may have the assets to make it work. This trade may do the trick:
Pick number three would begin putting the Pacers in Brandon Miller/Scoot Henderson range, so players that could be core All-Star level players that the team could continue to build around. However, with good players comes a high cost.
The Pacers would be giving up Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard as pieces that could help Dame in Portland, while also swapping picks in the current draft.
2. In the unlikely situation that Charlotte wants to move off of number two
There is a chance that Charlotte wants to make a run with their current core around LaMelo Ball (unlikely as it seems, stranger things have happened). In order to secure the second pick in the draft, the Pacers would have to give up significant, and I mean significant, assets. This means starting caliber players as well as young talent.
The cost is high, and it is a question whether the Pacers are that high on either Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson. But if they are, they could bring in the deadweight contract of Gordon Hayward (coming back home actually) to move up to number two. But to make the trade worthwhile for the Hornets, we would be trading both Turner and Mathurin who highlight the package. Some fans will say the cost is too high (and I’m not saying I’d do it for sure), it would probably get the deal done for pick number two.
1. There is a zero percent chance that the Spurs move off of pick number one.
There is no combination of assets that the Pacers could string together to get to pick number one and Victor Wembanyama. So we aren’t even going to try. However, we could make some picks for a later round player or use our number seven pick to bring in additional talent from the Spurs.
If the Spurs want to add a different position (given that Sochan and Wembanyama play the same position), it may be possible for the Pacers to trade two late round picks with young talent for Jeremy Sochan, a power forward the Pacers could plug into the lineup. It’s unclear if the Spurs plan to play Wembanyama at center or power forward, but this could open up some opportunity in the lineup.
Which of the teams in the Top 10 do you think the Pacers are most likely to make a deal with? Let us know in the comments below!