We are just weeks away from the NBA Trade Deadline, and the Indiana Pacers have been a team to monitor. Though they have not appeared in many rumors, they have constantly been linked to the same player for some time. According to numerous reports, the Pacers have interest in trading for Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson.
Johnson is a good player who could be a tremendous fit in Indiana. However, there are multiple reasons the Pacers should avoid trading for him. First, the Nets' reported asking price of at least two first-round picks and one or two key role players (which would likely just be a minimum in a bidding war) is too much for Indiana to give up. Second, it makes no sense for the Pacers, who are finally finding their rhythm, to risk messing with the chemistry and putting an unnecessary halt to their hot streak.
There are reasons for the Pacers to trade for Johnson, but the negatives outweigh the positives. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Pacers seem to think the same way.
Pacers are not committed to their Cam Johnson pursuit
In a recent report for The Stein Line (subscription required), Fischer reported that it is still unknown if the Pacers are willing to make "a determined in-season pursuit for Johnson."
"When it comes to the Pacers, it remains to be seen whether one of the league's hottest teams is prepared to mount a determined in-season pursuit for Johnson that would presumably require Indiana to put significant trade capital on the table if the Nets maintain their current asking price."
By all accounts, this is a good sign for the Pacers. They are willing to make the moves necessary to bolster their roster, but only if such a trade makes sense. Johnson provides a lot of value as a 3-and-D player, but the Pacers are better off standing pat and avoiding making any major changes to the team during the season.
A trade could be inevitable, especially if it benefits the Pacers' future. However, acquiring Johnson, especially if they would be shipping out Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, and/or Obi Toppin to Brooklyn, is a win-now move that would instead jeopardize their future.
Johnson is turning 29 in March, and although he has improved since joining the league in 2019, he is unlikely to develop much more than he already has. Trading for Johnson is not a bad idea on its own. However, trading multiple future assets for a player who may not provide much of an upgrade is a risk not worth taking.
The Pacers are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They are 8-1 to begin 2025 and have a lot to look forward to this year. Keeping the roster that has gotten them to this point makes the most sense, and it appears that is likely the plan as they aim to capitalize on their run with a second-half push.