The Indiana Pacers have a chance to make another run at the NBA Finals next season, but they need to make sure they have the right pieces in place to do so. They already have a good roster, but if they wanted to add even more talent, they could try to steal Aaron Gordon away from Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Adding Gordon’s bounce alongside Tyrese Haliburton would be a dream. The Pacers already have some of that with Obi Toppin, but Gordon’s defense could make him a potential upgrade. Gordon and Jokic have formed quite the duo in Denver over the years, but if the Nuggets want to save money, perhaps a deal could be made.
Gordon would slot in nicely alongside Haliburton in the starting lineup.
Pacers should consider an Aaron Gordon trade
As long as Haliburton can get back to being close to the best version of himself, the Pacers should be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference next season.
The trio of Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac should be good enough to compete with most teams, and the Pacers have a good supporting cast, too.
But what if they could get better? What if they could keep the same level of athleticism in their potential rotation while also adding some defensive versatility? Enter, Gordon.
The Nuggets may want to shed some salary heading into next season, especially if they hope to retain Peyton Watson this summer, as he will be a restricted free agent.
Gordon is slated to make $33.7 million next season. However, if the Pacers made a deal before the start of the next league year, they would only have to match his current salary: $22.8 million.
In theory, they could get there by trading Toppin and Jarace Walker. The Nuggets would shed some salary, and the Pacers would get a defensive upgrade, as well as a guy with championship experience.
Jokic needed Gordon to win a championship. His two-way impact was elite, and he gave Jokic a perfect lob threat to work with. Gordon could be that same lob threat for Haliburton.
Gordon dealt with some injury issues last year, but he’s still a great player, and he hadn’t been hurt much before that. If the Pacers feel good about him, they should consider inquiring about a deal.
Again, the Pacers may already be one of the best teams in the East. But adding Gordon to the mix could help make them a favorite to come out of the conference.
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