The Indiana Pacers have the perfect buy-low trade candidate to address their center needs--Phoenix Suns big man Oso Ighodaro.
In his rookie season last year, the Arizona native averaged 4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17.1 minutes over 60 games. While his stats are not much to brag about, it is clear that Ighodaro can play and has potential. He has high basketball IQ and has shown that he can contribute in each aspect of the game.
Unfortunately for Ighodaro, he is unlikely to get many more opportunities in Phoenix. The Suns also have Mark Williams, Khaman Maluach, and Nick Richards above him on the depth chart. Because of this, trading the 23-year-old could be in the team's best interest, and the Pacers should be the first ones to give them a call (h/t the Game Theory Podcast).
"If you put [Ighodaro] with the Pacers, and you put him with Haliburton with the way that he's smart at screening, re-screening, handoff, dribble handoff, DHO, oh my God. It would be filthy. Can we make this happen? If I'm Indiana, I'm calling and being like, 'I will give you two second-round picks right now for Oso," Vecenie said.
With Myles Turner's departure earlier this offseason, the Pacers have a clear need at the big man position, and they could help Ighodaro blossom. They have done it before, and they can certainly do it again.
The Pacers have a major center problem to figure out
Ighodaro alone would not solve Indiana's problems, but he could be a huge help, particularly because of how much potential he has.
As it stands, the Pacers have four big men rostered: Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley. Instead of committing to one Turner replacement, they will run a center-by-committee and ride the hot hand during the games. This has the potential to work, but it is far from ideal.
Head coach Rick Carlisle has experience running a committee at center, and with him leading the way, there are reasons to believe it can work in Indiana. However, even if it does, the Pacers' options are not perfect.
Every big man on the roster provides value and intrigue one way or another. However, none of them are established starting centers on a championship-level team like the Pacers. While Turner was not a perfect center, and his departure may actually work in Indiana's favor, he was at least good enough to be the team's starting center in the conference finals and NBA Finals. The Pacers will have time to figure this out, but right now, it looks bleak.
As it stands, the Pacers are not likely to be a real title contender next season. They can still make some noise in the East, but without Tyrese Haliburton or Turner, it will be incredibly difficult for the team to pick up where they left off next season. Regardless, their future is bright, and if they are still in the market for a center, they may want to give Phoenix a call down the line.