The Pacers were smart for not pulling the trigger on this ridiculous trade
By Ryan Stano
Before the season started, the Indiana Pacers were being thrown around as a team that could trade a couple of players. Many in the media thought that they were still in the rebuilding phase and weren't ready to seriously contend. We saw that was wrong when they made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Lakers fans and even some media members thought that the Pacers were perfect trade partners for them. They were convinced that Indiana would just give away two important members fo the team for almost no return. Quite honestly, it was baffling to hear.
The trade involved sending Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to Los Angeles for the Lakers' 2027 and 2029 first-round picks along with Russell Westbrook, although Westbrook was more attached in 2002 when these rumors started. The Lakers didn't want to give up both picks but their fans seem to think that's something that the Pacers should've just accepted.
The Pacers were smart not to trade Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to the Lakers
In the end, the Pacers decided to keep both players into the season. Even once the season started, the rumors were still floating around. Yet, Indiana decided to keep both players and not even engage the Lakers with any trade at any point throughout the year.
Instead, Indiana would hold Turner throughout the entire year. He ended up having his best overall season as a Pacer. He's shown that he's not only a great player but a veteran leader for a young team. They were smart in doing so and he's clearly a part of their future.
Hield was traded to the 76ers and wasn't really a factor in their playoff rotation. Could you imagine Russell Westbrook with this team? Not only would he not have been a fit, but he would've taken the ball out of Tyrese Haliburton's hands. He likely would've been a buyout guy.
manual
Those two future draft picks would not have been worth it for the Pacers. Instead, they pivoted into buyers by trading for Pascal Siakam and now they are trying to be title contenders. It's quite a change from where they were before this season started.