The Indiana Pacers have one of the most intriguing rosters heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. Led by star guard Tyrese Haliburton and former champion Pascal Siakam, the Pacers are a young team with an elite offense. Last season, they made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2014. And despite losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics, they proved they belonged.
There is a lot to be excited about in Indiana as the team aims to make another deep playoff run next year. This summer, they essentially kept their exact same roster intact. The Pacers re-signed Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, and James Johnson. Furthermore, they signed Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell to contract extensions to keep them around for the long haul.
As for external additions, the Pacers kept it relatively quiet. However, the moves they did make could pay off immediately. The Pacers drafted Johnny Furphy, who showcased a lot of potential in Summer League, in the second round, and they signed former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman, who will give them more depth at center and could help fix their rebounding problems.
With just a few weeks to go until the beginning of training camp, the Pacers are likely done making any major moves to their roster. However, that will not stop them from being subject to trade rumors. And according to Bleacher Report, the Pacers have one particular player they should acquire to help them inch even closer to legitimate title contention--Moses Moody from the Golden State Warriors.
Bleacher Reports suggests the Pacers should trade for Warriors guard Moses Moody
This is the full trade Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale has suggested:
Golden State Warriors trade: Moses Moody
Indiana Pacers trade: Isaiah Jackson, a 2025 second-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick (Utah), and a 2029 second-round pick (Portland)
This is a solid trade idea for the Pacers. Moody is a promising 3-and-D player who could help the Pacers out immediately if given the opportunity. He is only 22 years old and has looked good in his three-year stint in Golden State so far.
On the Pacers, he likely would not become a regular starter right away, unless they want to try to play him at the small forward position. However, even though he is not necessarily a lockdown defender, Moody would immediately become one of the team's better defenders and could blossom into a perimeter stopper, something the team desperately needs.
Furthermore, while Jackson is a solid backup big man, he is replaceable at this stage in his career. Additionally, he is scheduled to hit restricted free agency next summer, as is Moody. If Wiseman can become a legitimate rotation player for the Pacers, it would make sense to move on from Jackson and get something in return instead of potentially losing him next summer.
Trading Jackson may also do him a service as they could send him somewhere that would give him an opportunity to develop and contribute, rather than keep him as a definitive backup and potential third-string option.
From Golden State's perspective, they reportedly have made no progress in extending Moody past this season. Additionally, it seems that he is not due for a larger role anytime soon with the acquisitions of Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, and De'Anthony Melton.
This would be a good trade for both sides, but especially so for the Pacers. It would raise some questions about where Moody fits on the team immediately, but his upside is clear. If the Warriors would be open to a trade like this, the Pacers must pull the trigger.
Pacers Grade: A
Warriors grade: B+