Reviewing Indiana Pacers trade ideas constructed by Bleacher Report
The NBA offseason is at a slow point, and that's the time when ideas can fill the air. There may not be many free agency moves left to be made this summer, so teams could soon turn their attention to trades.
That's why members of Bleacher Report's NBA staff came together to generate a trade idea for all 30 rosters in the league. And because the Indiana Pacers have a younger roster that is looking to take a step forward, they ended up being a part of four different moves generated by the B/R writing crew.
Reviewing all four deals can be a useful exercise in determining the value of many assets that Indiana owns. All 30 deals are listed here.
Trade number one:
Indiana Pacers receive: Cody Martin
Charlotte Hornets receive: T.J. McConnell
The idea here is sound. The Pacers have several backcourt players who could be deserving of minutes, including Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Buddy Hield, Bruce Brown, Aaron Nesmith, and McConnell. One of them won't play much, if at all, in every game.
Flipping one of them for a forward makes some sense, and Martin is talented. He averaged 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game two years ago, though he dealt with numerous injuries last year. He likely wouldn't be in the Pacers rotation, but his positional versatility is beneficial.
Martin would be the first in line for minutes after an injury at many different spots with the blue and gold. He also has three million more dollars of guaranteed money on his deal over the next two years, which isn't significant but isn't nothing.
McConnell likely has more value in a vacuum, especially since Martin missed most of the 2022-23 season with an injury. But this isn't a vacuum. The Pacers would be right to ask for a small asset on top of Martin, especially since McConnell would be a helpful backup for Charlotte. But this trade, proposed by Dan Favale, does make some sense.
Trade number two:
Indiana Pacers receive: Reggie Jackson, Zeke Nnaji, and a 2025 second-round draft pick
Denver Nuggets receive: T.J. McConnell
For similar reasons to the above deal, the Pacers could consider moving McConnell. And Reggie Jackson, while on the wrong side of 30 and on a slightly over market contract, would be better placed in a reserve guard role without minutes every night. He also has less total guaranteed money on his deal than McConnell.
Nnaji, meanwhile, is a young forward with upside who can play at the five if needed. He was selected in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft and has always been an efficient play finisher. Despite being up and down, he has rotation-player upside.
Getting a second round pick on top of that makes this a deal the Pacers would likely consider, even though the second-round pick could be near the back of the second round due to Denver's strong roster. Grant Hughes came up with this deal, and it does make sense for both organizations.
Mar 25, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Trade number three:
Indiana Pacers receive: Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors receive: Buddy Hield, T.J. McConnell, Jarace Walker, a 2024 first-round draft pick (top-four protection), and a 2026 first-round pick (top-eight protection)
The Pacers have been reported by many to have interest in Siakam, an All-NBA level forward who would fit incredibly well on the Pacers. He's a fantastic talent who could play either forward position for Indiana.
A player of his ability level would require sending out a lot in return, though, and the Raptors would be smart to have a high price tag. Siakam helped Toronto win a title in 2019 and averaged over 24 points per game this past season. He's a terrific player.
One of Myles Turner or Hield would almost certainly have to be in the deal just from a salary matching standpoint, so it makes sense that Hield is included here. McConnell is a useful salary for matching as well as a nice veteran piece. Walker and the two first round picks, neither of which can be in the top-four, are the assets that could be necessary to get a deal done.
If Siakam is willing to sign an extension with the Pacers, then this deal makes a ton of sense. All-NBA talents in their 20s are extremely valuable, especially if they are under contract for multiple seasons. But as it stands, Siakam only has one year left on his deal, and giving up a lottery pick, two strong first rounders, and two talented veterans is too much for a rental. Favale proposed this deal, and it makes sense if Siakam extends but should be avoided by the blue and gold otherwise.
Trade number four:
Indiana Pacers receive: John Collins, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino
Utah Jazz receive: D'Angelo Russell and a 2025 second-round pick (Miami's pick that Indiana owns)
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Buddy Hield, Daniel Theis, and a 2026 second-round pick (From Utah)
The Lakers nearly acquired Buddy Hield in a deal in 2021 before changing directions and getting Russell Westbrook instead. They didn't acquire the sharpshooter, but their interest in him has reportedly been constant since then.
In this deal, Los Angeles grabs him and takes Daniel Theis off the Pacers hands. Indiana has less use than other teams could for the veteran center given their depth at the five spot. A second rounder also goes to the Lakers from the Jazz in 2026, which means every team sends something to every other team in this three-team agreement.
To acquire the two veterans and the draft pick, they send recent 17th overall pick and Indiana Hoosier Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Pacers along with forward Jarred Vanderbilt. They would also be sending guard D'Angelo Russell, who just signed a two-year, $36 million deal, to the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz would send John Collins, who has a slightly-too-expensive deal, to the Pacers and a second rounder to the Lakers. They would upgrade their roster and improve their long-term salary outlook.
If Indiana was willing to stomach Collins' deal, they would seem to be the clear winners of this deal. They get three rotation level players for a solid player in Hield, a player on an expiring contract in Theis, and a second rounder that can't be higher than 38th. The Lakers would need a long-term agreement with Hield to do something like this, at a minimum. They might need more assets, too. But the idea of this framework makes sense.
Hughes created this trade, and he notes that it couldn't be legally completed for a while since Russell just signed a new contract.
The Pacers still have a few logjams that would require a trade to be broken up. Some of these deals address that, and the other 26 swaps provide an interesting look at the league.
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- Reports: Indiana Pacers have 'reached out' about Pascal Siakam trade with Toronto Raptors. CLICK HERE.
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