The Indiana Pacers, in their first campaign following last season's Eastern Conference Finals appearance, are not off to a hot start. To begin the 2024-25 season, the Pacers are 2-4 and have not looked like the same team from a season ago. Their offense, which led the league in points per game last season, is underwhelming, and they remain one of the worst rebounding and defensive teams in the NBA. Furthermore, they are dealing with numerous injuries and cannot seem to catch a break.
Despite their slow start, there is no doubt that the Pacers are a young team with a lot of potential. Whether they make another deep playoff this season remains to be seen. However, regardless of this season's outcome, the Pacers have proven they have what it takes to eventually become legitimate title contenders, even though they are not there yet.
The Pacers have a lot of flaws, despite their talented roster. Arguably the biggest need they have is a lockdown wing defender. While Aaron Nesmith does a solid job in this area, the Pacers need more if they want to compete with the top teams in the league, especially against teams like the Boston Celtics, who are wing-dominant.
Recently, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes wrote about a "dream" and "realistic" target for each NBA team. Hughes threw out many notable names for other teams, such as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Kawhi Leonard. While Hughes did not name a player of that magnitude as a dream target for Indiana, Pacers fans would certainly be happy if they did land the player Hughes mentioned.
Orlando Magic defensive ace Jonathan Isaac named 'dream target' for Pacers
In his article, Hughes named Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic as a dream target for the Pacers. Isaac, who joined the Magic after they drafted him sixth overall in 2017, has developed a reputation as one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league. Additionally, most importantly for the Pacers, he is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA and would elevate the team to another level.
Unfortunately, the 27-year-old's biggest concern is his prominent durability issues. Isaac missed the entire 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns due to a knee injury. Additionally, he only played 11 games during the 2022-23 season. He is coming off the second-healthiest season of his career, however, appearing in 58 games in 2023-24 (not including his appearance in all seven of Orlando's playoff games).
In theory, Isaac would be a great fit for the Pacers. He is a defensive specialist and would immediately address arguably their biggest need. However, his injuries are a legitimate concern, making it difficult for the team to acquire him. Furthermore, he signed a four-year, $59 million deal in July, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season.
The odds of Indiana landing Isaac any time soon are slim. However, there is no denying that he would be an intriguing addition to the team, and if healthy, he would certainly bring the team closer to the championship picture.