Bobby Marks from ESPN wrote two articles aimed at predicting NBA trades that could be made in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The in-depth articles break down every team in the league’s situation entering the trade deadline, including recent trades they made, trades that ESPN want to see assets and more.
The Indiana Pacers were involved in three of the trades that Marks detailed. The direction of the Pacers trade deadline isn’t clear after the team got off to a strong start ahead of its ongoing seven-game losing streak and the franchise is well below the salary floor, leaving Indiana with a number of things to do by the Feb. 9 deadline.
Specifically in the Pacers section, Marks described a deal where the Pacers use their salary cap space to their advantage.
Pacemaker received: Dario Saric, cash payments. Suns Received: 2028 Second Round Draft Pick (protected 31-35).
Saric is in the last season of his three-year contract, so this deal is all about finances. The Suns would save a lot of money (the remaining amount of Saric’s $9 million salary + tax savings) and the Pacers would receive cash payments to cover the remainder of Saric’s salary for this season. Indiana would have to lose a player (Marks suggests James Johnson) to ease the trade.
In exchange for the talented frontcourt player, the Suns would receive a protected second-round pick from the Pacers.
While this framework makes sense, it feels like the Pacers aren’t getting enough benefit in this particular trade. Saric wouldn’t play for the Pacers, who already have excess frontcourt depth in Myles Turner, Daniel Theis, Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith. Getting Saric would bring the Pacers closer to the salary floor, but they would need more incentive to take his deal as he would essentially offer no value on the court. You could try to get him into another deal.
If the protection of the pickaxe that the Pacers sent out was heavier or the Pacers themselves got a pickaxe then this could be done.
Pacemaker obtained: PJ Washington. Hornets received: 2023 first-round draft picks from Boston and Cleveland.
Indiana has needed a power forward for a while, and that’s Jake Fischer Yahoo Sports reported that the team could target that position by deadline when looking for upgrades.
Washington suits the Pacers as he plays that position, and while his contract expires at the end of the current season, the Pacers could send him to the limited free hand and greatly increase their chance of keeping him.
Washington is 24 and is averaging 15.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season. He’s good and would fit the Pacers’ timeline and style. The Hornets, meanwhile, are moving towards the bottom of the table and may currently favor draft picks over players. Would Cleveland’s (currently 24th, top-14 protected) and Boston’s (currently 30th, top-12 protected) suffice?
If the Pacers are looking for upgrades despite their rocky game lately, this deal could make sense for them. The tricky part might be convincing Charlotte to accept the deal, but if they don’t value Washington long-term, maybe that could be done.
Ironically, the second trade suggested by Marks is in the Hornets section of his Eastern Conference article.
Pacemaker obtained: PJ Washington. Hornets received: Chris Duarte and the 2023 first-round draft pick from Cleveland.
The deal is similar to the above but instead includes Duarte in place of the Boston selection.
Fischer reported that Duarte could be available this season. The 25-year-old wing had an excellent, slump-breaking game against Memphis just over a week ago but is having a poor season. The 13th overall winner of 2021 is averaging 7.3 points per game this year with 34.4% shots from the field and 29.6% shots from deep. His shot missed.
However, Duarte became a second-team all-rookie after his freshman season, so trading in him would sell now while his value is at a low point. Would the emerging Pacers be interested in trading a player whose value has never been lower?
Washington is good enough to consider the deal. But the Pacers may prefer to forgo draft capital (say, the Boston first-rounder in the deal above) rather than walk away from Duarte when his value is lower.
If that’s the only way the Pacers could reach Washington, they might pull the trigger. But this one is difficult considering Duarte’s track record juxtaposed with his current struggles.
The last deal Marks created also includes Duarte. It’s in his Portland Trail Blazers section.
Getting pacemaker: Josh Hart. Trail Blazers received: TJ McConnell and Chris Duarte
Josh Hart is one of the best rebound guards in the league, a skill the Pacers desperately need. He scores around 10 points per game with slightly above average efficiency and his defense is solid. He’s a good player starting for Portland for a reason.
However, his contract makes this complicated. He has a player option on his contract for next season and if he declines the option, he could become an unrestricted free agent this summer. This player option costs just under $13 million, which could be enough for Hart to pick it up. But he could be looking for long-term money of around the same annual value, so it would make sense for the 27-year-old to turn down the option.
The risk that Hart could switch teams this summer means he should be considered a player on loan. For the Pacers, is it worth trading TJ McConnell, their backup point guard, and Duarte for a short-term addition?
If the Pacers think they can keep Hart beyond this season, then maybe. He’s a great match for Tyrese Haliburton. But trading away Duarte when his value is low, as well as McConnell, who is having a solid season and is a key off-court piece for the Pacers, probably isn’t worth it for him for the blue and gold. If the Blazers were to throw in an additional asset, this one would make sense.
The Pacers are 23-25 and currently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference. You are in a difficult position before the trading deadline.
- Tyrese Haliburton says he hopes to return for the Indiana Pacers “in early February” from injury. CLICK HERE.
- Report: Goga Bitadze is the Indiana Pacers’ ‘most likely’ big man to be traded this season. CLICK HERE.
- Myles Turner has improved significantly this season. Just ask his former teammates and coaches. CLICK HERE.
- Five reasons the Indiana Pacers lost five games in a row. CLICK HERE.
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