It's no secret that the Indiana Pacers reportedly have interest in landing a new starting center ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline. But according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, Indiana has gauged interest in five big men, including New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi, who may be the team's most realistic trade target.
"With that in mind, the Pacers gauged the price tag on various centers leaguewide this season, including Utah’s Walker Kessler, Los Angeles’ Ivica Zubac, Brooklyn’s Nicolas Claxton, Dallas’ Daniel Gafford, New Orleans’ Yves Missi, and others, league sources told HoopsHype.
"Missi, a 21-year-old center who showed flashes of potential last season, has had a reduced role in his second season with the Pelicans under the new regime of Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver."
Missi is objectively the worst center (or maybe just the least established) of the five the Pacers are reportedly interested in. However, this doesn't mean he's not an intriguing option, and it may be the team's best bet to get a new starting center without giving up too big a haul.
The Pacers should trade for Yves Missi
Missi started 67 of his 73 games for the Pelicans last season as a rookie. In those games, he averaged 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 26.8 minutes while shooting 54.7% from the field. He also earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.
Despite his solid rookie season, the Baylor alum has taken on a reduced role, largely due to the emergence of rookie Derik Queen, who has started each of his last 25 games for New Orleans. Missi is down to just seven starts and 17.6 minutes per game. He has also logged single-digit minutes in four games this season after having zero last year.
Even though he's not playing a bigger role despite a strong rookie season, it's more of a testament to Queen's talents rather than Missi's shortcomings.
Missi is an incredibly athletic big man who plays with a lot of energy and is a strong paint presence on both sides of the ball. Additionally, he is a good rebounder and can use his physicality to his advantage.
He's not a stretch big at all, having only attempted one career three-point attempt (which he missed), and he's still mostly unpolished. However, at just 21 years old, there is a lot of room for Missi to grow.
Acquiring Missi wouldn't be a game-changing move, but it could move the needle for the Pacers. They obviously need an upgrade at the position, and if what he showed in his rookie season is any indication, then the Belgian native could become that for them.
Plus, he's still on a rookie contract and is already having his role reduced. Compared to players like Zubac and Gafford, the Pacers' trade package for him likely wouldn't be anything too crazy.
The Pacers are a team to keep an eye on ahead of the trade deadline as they reportedly look to land a new starting center. And based on Scotto's latest report, fans shouldn't be too surprised if that player turns out to be Missi.