Draft picks are a funny thing. All front offices in the league fiercely value them, and yet they are regularly wasted in June. They are random chance personified, and also the most reliable way to build a team. They are infinitely useful, and also often turn into nothing.
The Indiana Pacers have used draft picks largely as trade assets, using first-round picks to bring in two key starters in Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. Conversely, they have done the NBA equivalent of lighting their draft picks on fire during the draft.
After those two major trades, which included five firsts in total, fans might think the front office no longer has the pick equity to swing a big trade, but they'd be wrong.
Pacers have plenty of draft capital to trade
The Pacers still own their own first round pick in 2027 and 2028, before owing one to the LA Clippers in 2029 as part of the Zubac trade. After that, they own all of their own first-rounders moving forward. That leaves a total of three tradeable firsts under the Stepien rule.
Now, that's clearly not as many as the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs. Both teams are clear contenders and have hoards of draft picks to move. OKC has seven tradeable firsts, while the Spurs have four. They combine to have 26 movable second-rounders as well.
Indiana clearly isn't at that level, but they are far better off than some of their contemporaries in the fringe contender tier.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have only one movable first-round pick and two tradable picks in total. The Minnesota Timberwolves sent out their only tradable pick as part of the LaMelo Ball trade. The Boston Celtics, who were once the face of pick hoarding, are down to only five picks to trade and still owe a swap to the Spurs.
The surplus draft picks that are usually what define a teardown are not something Indiana has access to. However, they are not out of options, even if it would have been nicer to keep their pick during a gap year.
Potential Pacers trade targets
It's hard to find players who are truly worth multiple first-round picks in today's NBA. The changes to the lottery mean that even fringe playoff teams have a chance at a top pick, making them even more valuable than before.
A name that has been floated through Pacer circles quite often is Trey Murphy III. While he may not be the shot creator that the Pacers could look to add, he does not destroy the delicate system at the core of Indiana's success.
However, the New Orleans Pelicans' reported asking price of three firsts is insane for a player with no All-Star appearances and no seasons on a winning team (even though he made the playoffs as part of a 36-46 Pelicans team in 2021-22).
Maybe a star will become available that could slot into the starting two-guard spot, pushing Andrew Nembhard back to coming off the bench. Maybe the trade to pursue is instead a wing creator who could move to either the shooting guard or small forwards spot.
Either way, with three picks available and the new draft lottery changes raising their value, Indiana is certainly not out of moves just yet.
Add us as a preferred source on Google