Reviewing two Indiana Pacers trade ideas proposed by Bleacher Report

While most NBA teams have their roster set for the upcoming season, transactions are still possible. The Los Angeles Lakers just agreed to extend the contract of Jarred Vanderbilt, the Washington Wizards just added Taj Gibson, and JaVale McGee is joining the Sacramento Kings. Teams are still making moves.

In just over two weeks, most squads will begin training camp. With that date in mind, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley constructed a mock trade for all 30 teams in the league to tweak their roster ahead of camp.

The Indiana Pacers, who have talent, youth, and a strong asset base, are involved in two of the deals. They could look to improve their team in the not-so-distant future as they have playoff goals, but they are still young enough to bring in youth.

Reviewing the two trades will make it more clear what does, and doesn't, make sense for Indiana with the 2023-24 campaign around the corner.

Pacers receive: OG Anunoby

Raptors receive: Buddy Hield, a 2025 first-round pick (top-three protected), and a 2027 first-round pick

Aunuoby has been a commonly rumored target for the Pacers. The Raptors wing is entering what could be the final year of his contract with Toronto, so speculation will persist all season about his long-term future.

The 26-year old wing is one of the NBA's premier perimeter defenders, and he is a solid shooter from deep as well. That skill set is valuable on any team, and Indiana could use a three-and-D wing, especially one like Anunoby that has more to his game than just those skills.

Hield, or some combination of other veterans, would be needed for salary matching purposes, and draft compensation or young players would have to go from Indiana to Toronto to get a deal done. The question is how many assets it would take.

Anunoby is extension eligible and still would be after a trade, but the NBA's extension rules make it difficult to come up with a proper framework. Depending on how much cap space the Pacers had left over after a hypothetical deal, they could theoretically renegotiate-and-extend a contract like Anunoby's. But without knowing anything about his long-term contractual future, it's hard to figure out the right price for the talented wing on top of the matching salary.

Two first rounders, with one of them being protected, feels about right. This one could make sense for the blue and gold, especially before the campaign, but the Raptors would likely want more in return.

Pacers receive: Kyle Kuzma

Wizards receive: Buddy Hield, Obi Toppin, and a 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected)

The idea here is unique in that the Pacers give up some interesting, yet in-flux, assets for a talented scoring forward in Kuzma. He averaged 21.2 points per game for Washington last season and would give the Pacers another interesting dimension in the frontcourt.

The problem is that he isn't trade eligible until January 15, 2024. So this trade isn't possible for another four months. The framework, however, is something that is worth thinking about.

Toppin was acquired by Indiana earlier in the offseason for two second-round draft picks. He has potential as a former top-10 pick, but he is unproven and has never played a game for the Pacers. Hield, meanwhile, is once again key to this trade for salary matching purposes. He was a solid contributor for the blue and gold last season but, like Toppin, has a contract that expires at the end of the year.

Those players, combined with a 2024 first-round draft pick (of which Indiana has two) is not a lot of long-term assets to send away for a talented player like Kuzma. But it still might be too much for a forward who wouldn't help the Pacers where they need it most (defensively). His offensive fit would be solid, though, and could make a deal worth it.

All 30 trades created by Buckley can be found here. The Pacers will be a team commonly named in fake trades and rumors throughout the season due to their unique long-term position.

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