The Indiana Pacers are one of the most disappointing teams to date in the NBA, or at the very least, in their conference. As the league approaches the year’s end, the trade deadline is just around the corner from that point. A handful of teams will move toward unload expiring contracts and selling pieces to pick up some future draft picks or better roster fits. As for where the Pacers fit into all that, they should consider themselves part of that bunch—sellers.
Indiana Pacers Future Brighter in Sell Mode
For the Indiana Pacers to Excel, Wheeling and Dealing At Trade Deadline Is Best Bet
Last season, the Pacers had quite the epic run—from advancing through the league’s inaugural NBA Cup and coming out as runners-up to marching all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. It was quite an impressive season and their best since acquiring Tyrese Haliburton via trade only a couple of years before. Last season’s results segued into this season’s expectations. Unfortunately, at least up until now, those expectations haven’t been met, and the Pacers find themselves underperforming and non-competitive.
At 10-15, Indiana sits tenth in the East, tied with mirroring records of the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. Frankly, the Pacers have not played consistent basketball, never mind good basketball. Acquiring Pascal Siakam last season was a solid move for the organization. However, it hasn’t paid dividends in this season so far. All in all, Indiana does not look put together. As Bill Simmons put it on his podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast, the Pacers don’t look anything like last year’s team, and a big trade might be their best option to change their season trajectory.
“They might have the worst body language of any Eastern Conference team…they just seem like more of a normal basketball team than the team that we watched last year that was balls to the wall and they don’t seem that happy to me…they don’t have the same kind of thing that made them special last year.” Simmons added this about a roster change up, “To me, they are the most likely trade team in either conference right now…Indiana doesn’t know what they are right now…I don’t really see a path for Indiana unless there is some trade.
When it comes down to it, Indiana is one of the teams that might improve drastically by selling. This could mean moving off of certain contracts or sacrificing young and upcoming talent. Nevertheless, the Pacers are massively underperforming, and something’s got to give.
Indiana Can Better Themselves By Selling
The most notable player on the Pacers who has stirred up trade rumors for a couple of seasons now is Myles Turner. If anybody is going to be moved out of Indiana this season, it’s likely him. It’s no secret that the Pacers have either attempted to or singled out an open window for trading Turner over the past two seasons, but a move has never been fleshed out. Moving him could bring back a significant return. Plus, Indiana would get off of his contract.
Another selling move that could prove beneficial is making Bennedict Mathurin available for trade. He’s young, skilled, and talented. His career year would help Indiana if they were to look at trading him. He’s averaging 17.8 PPG, the most since his rookie season, and 16.1 PPG for his career. Those numbers, accompanied by solid ancillary stats, should be heavily attractive to several teams, provided the Pacers make Mathurin available. Moving him can significantly change the Pacers roster for the better. At the very least, they could pick up a draft pick or two for down the road.
There is still much time for a turnaround, with only five games below .500. Still, Indiana should be looking further ahead than just the current season. Haliburton and Siakam are both sighed long-term. They have excellent young role pieces in Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. Not to throw the season away entirely, but to better the franchise going forward, the Indiana Pacers would do well to sell come February’s trade deadline.
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