The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, and once again, Myles Turner remains a member of the Indiana Pacers.
While trading Turner was unlikely (though legitimately a possibility), it is still a welcoming sign for fans to see that the team is committed to him at least through the rest of the season. Additionally, outside of James Wiseman, who was traded to the Toronto Raptors, the Pacers did not make a single move at the deadline. This is in spite of past reports suggesting they could move on from Turner or Obi Toppin and acquire a player like Cameron Johnson.
There were some discussions about what the Pacers' plan would be at the trade deadline. However, their lack of activity proves one thing about this team.
The Pacers are contenders as it stands
Because the Pacers did not make any major changes to the roster, it is clear that their front office believes in their chances of competing for a title. Even if it is unlikely they will win it all this year (or even make it past the conference finals, for that matter), there are reasons to believe in this team.
Last season, the Pacers made their first conference finals appearance in over a decade. And despite getting swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics, they proved they belonged. Although they had a slow start to this season, the Pacers turned things around in a big way and are now the No. 4 seed in the East (and six games behind the No. 2 seed).
The Pacers have become a much more well-rounded team compared to last year, which should only bode well for their championship odds. At this point, they have been red-hot for close to two months now and have shown few signs of slowing down. Indiana has proven they are a tough team to face in the playoffs, and it feels like only a matter of time before this turns into consistent series victories.
By not adding or subtracting any notable pieces, the Pacers' front office has proven that they do not want to mess with the roster or the team's chemistry. And most fans can agree that this is the complete right call.
This is essentially the same Pacers team that was four wins away from an NBA Finals appearance last year, and in some ways, they may be even better. The current roster deserves the opportunity to play the season through and see how far they can go, and it is a good thing that the front office is giving them this chance.