The 2025 offseason was defined by one massive loss for the Indiana Pacers as the Milwaukee Bucks stole away the longest-tenured Pacer, Myles Turner. Turns out it wasn't that big of a loss as Turner was a massive disappointment, and the Bucks ended up trading Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the Bucks imploded, the Pacers did a lot of losing of their own before trading their 2026 first-round draft pick for Ivica Zubac, a move that looks incredibly one-sided. While Zubac is far and away the better player of the two, that move has left a void in one very important skillset: shooting.
Now, this is certainly not a roster fully devoid of shooting by any means. Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith will return after playing zero and 45 games respectively, and Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam can shoot.
However, the space that a shooting big man provides cannot be understated and was a big part of what allowed Haliburton, Nembhard, and Siakam to get to the rim as effectively as they did in that Finals run.
Maybe there should be some consideration for Jay Huff, who shot a paltry 31 percent from deep last year, but there may be an even better option in the trade market.
It should also be noted that the Pacers played Siakam at small-ball five during that playoff run, and that should obviously remain part of the calculus.
But, with so many options available, which ones make the most sense?
Shooting answers in the trade market
Replacing Turner does not necessarily require a one-for-one swap. After all, big men who can shoot well are a rare commodity. However, the answer may still lie somewhere in the aggregate.
Clearly, there are still on-roster options. Nesmith is among the best three-and-D players in the league, and his return should bring Haliburton the comfort he will surely need. Additionally, Kelly Oubre could bring some value as a spot-up shooter from the corner.
However, there's also no reason to play scared right now. The Pacers could target someone like Kel'el Ware from the Bucks, a player just old enough to be a questionable fit in Milwaukee's new rebuild, while still bringing undeniable value.
If the Pacers don't have the assets for that (they likely don't), maybe adding a shooting specialist in a vacuum could be intelligent.
Klay Thompson is likely to be bought out by the Dallas Mavericks. While he is old and truly on the decline, he may still have some life in him.
Jordan Hawkins of the New Orleans Pelicans is also a name with intrigue, if Indiana wants to find a bench option the way they stole Obi Toppin from the New York Knicks.
As the season wears on, the Pacers may struggle to succeed with so much less space available. Adding a "break in case of emergency" option would be prudent, and finding a way to work around a non-shooting center after ten years of having that luxury is a must.
So much of this era of Pacers basketball is dependent on next year. Ignoring a clear need would be foolish.
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