The Indiana Pacers desperately need a center following Myles Turner's shocking exit in free agency, and there is a painfully obvious trade target they must pursue: New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi.
New Orleans just landed Derik Queen in the draft, and they also signed veteran big man Kevon Looney to a two-year, $16 million deal. With a bit of a logjam at center, Missi, who made the All-Rookie Second Team last season, may be the odd man out in New Orleans, and the Pacers should get them on the phone as soon as possible.
Yves Missi may be Indiana's best option at center
One of the biggest risks to letting Turner walk in free agency was that it would be incredibly difficult to replace him this offseason. This especially became true when they did not address their uncertainty at center during the draft (though they only had two second-round picks). Now that Turner and some of the other top free-agent big men have found their homes for the 2025-26 season and beyond, the Pacers are in a bit of a predicament. However, Missi may be their best solution.
While not the same kind of player that Turner is, there is a lot to like about Missi's hypothetical fit in Indiana. He has good size at 6-foot-11 and 235 pounds, and he is a legitimate rebounder who could fix one of the Pacers' biggest weaknesses. With Turner off the roster, the Pacers have a unique opportunity to go in a completely different direction at their center position if needed, and Missi might be the guy.
Additionally, Missi provides great energy, loves to run the floor, and still has room to develop at just 21 years old. The Belgian native has a lot of defensive potential, averaging 1.3 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game during his rookie season, and he is a solid finisher at the rim. He has his flaws, especially since he has no outside game on offense, but it is clear that he has the talent and potential to develop into a legitimate big man in the NBA.
As it stands, it remains to be seen what the Pacers' plan at center is, but it is obvious they need to do something. So far, the Pacers have been linked to big men like Nick Richards and Deandre Ayton. However, these are both far from ideal additions for Indiana, and landing a player like Missi may be in their best interest, especially because he fits their timeline and would have a great opportunity to break out next season.
It also helps that Missi, who is still on a rookie deal, would probably also be Indiana's cheapest option, which is good if they want to stay below the luxury tax (and all signs point to them wanting to do so). The offseason is still young, and the Pacers may have plenty more tricks up their sleeve, but their next center of the future may be within reach, and all they have to do is give New Orleans another call to make it happen.