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This Pacers trade would give them the third star they desperately need

If the Pacers were able to pull off this trade, they would get the third star that they need to be a true threat.

By Ryan Stano

Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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For a team that just made the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers are in a wonderful spot. They are a young team who are ahead of schedule with their rebuild. Not only that, but they have some assets they can trade to immediately upgrade their team as well.

We saw in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston that Indiana still needs some defense to balance out their historic offense. They have to get someone on the wing who can switch and defend multiple positions. That's the last missing piece from this Pacers team.

Mikal Bridges could be that missing piece. Bridges is currently the top option in Brooklyn, but he is miscast. He's best used as the third-best player on a championship team. We saw his effectiveness go down this year in Brooklyn as the clear top option, as he only averaged 19.6 points per game compared to the end of last season when he had 26.1 when he first got traded.

This Pacers trade would bring Bridges to Indiana for a fair price

Right now, Brooklyn is stuck in no-man's land. They finally have a first-round pick next year, but only have one for the next three years. Tanking won't be an option for most of those seasons. They aren't good enough right now to make the playoffs either. They need a rebuild.

Trading Bridges to get some assets would be smart. Getting a young asset recently drafted in the lottery is even smarter. If the Pacers send Jarace Walker and T.J. McConnell to Brooklyn, that would be enough salary to bring Bridges to Indiana as a third star.

This would be a no-brainer trade for the Pacers. Bridges is just 27 years old and is extremely durable. He hasn't missed a game in the last three years. He was First-team All-Defense in 2022 too, so you know he's an excellent defender. Bridges is the exact kind of player the Pacers need.

From Brooklyn's perspective, they get a young piece in Walker who has shown flashes of brilliance. They could either keep McConnell or flip him for more valuable assets. There were plenty of teams around the trade deadline who were interested in him. The Nets could flip him for either another young piece or more draft capital.

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It's a clear win for Indiana, but I think Brooklyn might be able to get more for him elsewhere.

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