The Indiana Pacers have been disappointing this season. They are one game under .500 after 33 contests and are firmly in the Play-In Tournament mix just one season after making the conference finals. They desperately need to make a trade and could quickly come to regret their biggest offseason move if things do not turn around.
The aggression levels have ramped up across the NBA. When trade season unofficially opened on Dec. 15, fans saw two deals, including the Pacers making a move. With the new apron rules, teams are not waiting around. There was another surprise deal on Dec. 29.
The Lakers swooped in to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from the Nets. They gave up three second-round draft picks, D’Angelo Russell, and Maxwell Lewis to get the long-rumored target and Shake Milton. This was a case of Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers front office getting caught napping.
Pacers lose out on Dorian Finney-Smith after Lakers deal
Indiana is 23rd in defensive rating and did little to improve on his issue from last season. The Pacers could use a stout 3-and-D option that defends multiple positions. Someone who makes life easier on the team’s top players and does not command the ball on offense.
Finney-Smith blossomed under now-Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle in Dallas. He went from an undrafted free agent to an unquestioned starter. Doe-Doe entered the league as a subpar shooter but became a lethal threat from the corners. Since 2020, he has made 37.5 percent of his 3-point attempts over his time with the Mavericks and Nets.
Brooklyn is in the early stages of a rebuild and is looking to trade pieces because they are winning too many games. The Pacers should have known a deal was coming quickly after Dennis Schroder was traded to Golden State on Dec. 15. Finney-Smith’s play style and ties to Carlisle made him the ideal target for the Pacers, but the franchise missed a golden opportunity.
Three first-round picks are a small price for a starter who can impact winning without taking the ball out of a star player's hands. Indiana has six second-rounders from other teams between now and 2030 with just two outgoing. The Pacers had the draft capital and could have enticed the Nets further with a protected first-round pick if necessary.
The Pacers may think a superior option will become available before the trade deadline, but that does not change these facts. Dorian Finney-Smith would have solved some of the franchise’s biggest problems and fit seamlessly into the rotation. He is familiar with coach Carlisle and is not getting plays called for him. Doe-Doe is just fine spotting up in the corner and waiting for an open look.
The Indiana Pacers must upgrade their roster before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. They missed out on this opportunity, but others are on the horizon. The franchise must act or could be in for a disappointing season that will leave plenty of questions about their future. The pressure is certainly on.