Regardless of what people want to call it, the "tank" is on in Indiana, and the Pacers just got some good news that should help them out in a big way.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Trae Young is expected to make his debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Washington, who is 16-44 and just 1.5 games ahead of the Pacers in the standings, acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks in January. However, he has yet to play for the team due to multiple leg injuries.
As the Pacers remain in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in this year's stacked draft, they need all the luck they can get. And with Young expected to make his on-court return in just a couple of days, they are definitely getting some help.
Trae Young's return is good news for the Pacers
Young alone won't turn the Wizards into a good team for the rest of this season, but he should make an immediate impact nonetheless.
This season hasn't been a great one for the 27-year-old, but it's largely because he's played just 10 games due to injuries. Young is still an incredible player, and he should be a fantastic fit in Washington as a scoring threat and elite facilitator.
Last season, Young averaged 24.2 points, 11.6 assists (which led the NBA), 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.1% from the field and 34% from deep (admittedly, not his best). Additionally, he was named to his fourth All-Star team and finished fourth in Clutch Player of the Year voting.
With Young and Anthony Davis, who they acquired from the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline, the Wizards could be legitimate playoff contenders next season. But for now, they remain near the bottom of the league standings, alongside the Pacers.
There is a little over a month left in the season. And as it stands, the Pacers, who are 15-46, own the second-worst record in the NBA (they are just 1.5 games ahead of the 14-48 Sacramento Kings). According to Tankathon.com, they have a 52.1% chance at securing a top-four pick and a 14% chance of landing No. 1 in this year's draft.
This would be great for Indiana because it gives them a solid chance to retain their first-round pick (which goes to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls between the 5-9 range) and draft a potential game-changer, such as Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, or AJ Dybantsa
However, the race is probably a bit too close for the Pacers' liking. They are just 6.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks in the standings, and they own the seventh-worst record in the NBA. For reference, they currently have a 32% chance of getting a top-four pick and just a 7.5% chance of getting the first pick.
The Pacers may have a unique opportunity ahead of them, but they will need a lot to go their way. But with the Wizards potentially being on the come-up for the rest of the season, things could be falling into place.