Opinion: The Pacers Should Trade For Hawks' Cam Reddish

The Indiana Pacers struggled to do a lot of things last season, but the most significant cause for concern was the effort on the defensive side of the basketball.

The Pacers ranked an abysmal 26th in all of the NBA, giving up 115.7 points per game.

Yet, that is not typical basketball from the Pacers franchise.

In 2019-20?

The team ranked fourth in opponent points per game, only giving up 107.7 points per game.

(more on team stats can be read here from teamrankings.com)

According to Evan Massey of NBA Analysis Network (see Tweet below), the Pacers and Atlanta Hawks have had conversations surrounding Cam Reddish and the Pacers first round pick.

Per league source to @HoopAnalysisNet, the #Pacers and #Hawks have had conversations centered around Cam Reddish and the No. 13 pick.
— Evan Massey (@massey_evan) July 29, 2021

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report reported that the Pacers are taking calls from teams who want to move up in the draft, and the Hawks are one of them (see Tweet below).

Sounds like the Pacers are fielding a lot of calls from teams trying to move up. Hawks are one. Grizzlies also believed to be trying to move up further into top 10.
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) July 29, 2021

Chris Kirschner of The Athletic also reported that the Hawks have been taking calls on Reddish (see Tweet below from The Athletic and read his article here).

The Hawks were listening on offers for Cam Reddish before the trade deadline and they’re still listening now, sources tell @ChrisKirschner.

“If they packaged him with No. 20 and moved up, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

More: https://t.co/R0gleQWjC3 pic.twitter.com/O0SqMY6qr0
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 28, 2021

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer also reports that the Hawks have been offering Reddish and their 20th pick to teams in the late lottery. (his article can be read here).

The Tweet from the Ringer with the article, and Tweet from Hoop Central with a quote from O’Connor's story about Reddish can both be seen embedded below.

New mock draft with latest intel from around the NBA. Expect more changes throughout the day as the draft approaches later tonight. https://t.co/zhXAGLtHGC
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 29, 2021

“League sources say the Hawks have offered the 20th pick with Cam Reddish to teams drafting in the late lottery.”

(via @KevinOConnorNBA) pic.twitter.com/u1pZEAwj7m
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 29, 2021

Reddish would be a massive help to the Pacers on the defensive side of the basketball, and they should pursue him for the right price.