With the NBA Trade Deadline fast approaching, the leaders of the 30 franchises are busy making the necessary transfers before the fateful date of February 9. Of course, the situation of each team is different, and it is specifically for this reason that we wanted to make a special deadline paper by franchise. Presentation of the issues, issues to watch, intentions on the transfer market… we explain everything to you. On the menu today, the Indiana Pacers.
THE PACERS, RATHER BUYERS OR SELLERS AT THE DEADLINE?
It all depends on the ambitions for the second half of the season, but like that it seems… sellers ! The tanking policy announced by observers at the dawn of this season has been upset by the good results. Tyrese Haliburton brilliant, Indiana in the good part of the Eastern Conference, then this letting go: the Pacers remain on eight defeats in nine games. Coincidentally, Haliburton has been out for eight games. In the absence of its precocious genius, Indiana is clearly losing its luster and should return the old clunkers to the garage to test the young bikes. Therefore ? We clean up the furniture, while remaining focused on one of the main objectives of this Trade Deadline, namely to nab a 3/4 position that follows the timeline of the young group. Names mentioned? OG Anunoby, John Collins or Miles Bridges.
🚨 Indiana wants a forward who follows the timeline of his young group.
Examples recently circulated: OG Anunoby, John Collins or Miles Bridges.
However the Pacers would like to reproduce the model of the trade of James Harden: to integrate into a large trade, to recover its share. pic.twitter.com/2lRbkG3Izh
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 16, 2023
THE PACERS PLAYER(S) WHO COULD BE TRANSFERRED
Lots of assets in the Pacers wagon: Buddy Hield et T.J. McConnell among others, both in their thirties, efficient but far from essential. The second named runs in 53/45/92 and is under contract until the summer of 2025. No urgency then, but a little all the same. This is the first season of his career in 50/40/90. The unique opportunity to collect a big package in exchange for McConnell, that some contenders will see as a big added value coming off the bench. Also not sure that Myles Turner et Goga Bitadze be untouchable: Turner is a free agent this summer and has already turned down several extension offers from the Pacers. To see him go in a few months for nothing would be… heartbreaking? As for Bitadze, his fourth season at Indiana hasn’t lived up to expectations. He is only 23 years old and could be the bottom of a drawer of a big trade. Same thing for Daniel Theis: defensive pivot that we know is useful, 31 years old on April 4, could slip into a team looking for a little spacing.
🚨 Apparently the deal sending Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to the Lakers was almost done last October.
Lakers and Pacers were a few details away from closing the deal, before seeing the deal suddenly explode.
Russell Westbrook was doing well with the Pacers. pic.twitter.com/ttlIwB1nDr
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 16, 2023
THE PLAYERS COVENTED BY THE PACERS
At the arrivals level, Indiana expects nothing but young players in exchange for furniture. Ideally a position 3 therefore. The folder Rui Hachimura would have been perfect but, according to Shams Charania, the Pacers were overtaken by Rob Pelinka. The Suns were also in the race for the Japanese winger. Damn flute, we will have to find another man: perhaps in the people of OG Anunoby, John Collins or Miles Bridges, as scratched above.
Source texte : HoopsHype, Spotrac, Basketball Reference, Bleacher Report, NBA
