Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Pacers
In three seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Victor Oladipo has averaged 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, but has only played in 130 games. His injury history has caused a lot of concern for Pacers’ management and has led to them exploring trade partners for the 28-year-old guard this offseason.
Both Oladipo and the Pacers have shot down any trade rumors and it seems likely that they will wait to make any move with Oladipo until the trade deadline this season. They want to be able to see if he can still contribute at a high-level or not before making their decision, which makes a lot of sense, but could lower his overall trade value.
Sending Oladipo to the Celtics in exchange for a first-round pick in next year’s draft, as well as Marcus Smart and Romeo Langford, gives the Pacers depth in their back-court and two guys they can build with for years to come. Smart is coming off of one of his better seasons in his six-year NBA career and is one of the better two-way players in the league.
Smart has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First-Team in back-to-back seasons now, and is also a proven offensive talent, averaging 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, while shooting 34.7% from three-point range last season.
With T.J. Warren and Domantas Sabonis as the Pacers’ top two scoring options, as well as having Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner as their top defensive players, Smart would fit in perfectly with the Pacers and equal out their lineup between both defense and offense. Trading away Oladipo would open up the floor a lot more for Brogdon and Warren as well.
The Pacers have a great overall roster and should be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference this year, but if they have any shot at being a legit championship contender, they have to buy into what they are best at and that is defense.
Last season, the Pacers were one of the better defensive teams in the entire league and with the addition of Smart, they would have a shot to be the best defensive team in the league. Oladipo is an average defender and given his injuries over the years, he may not be the player he once was.
Trading him while his value is still high and while they can still get a first-round pick and a player like Smart would be very beneficial to them moving forward and it would allow them to continue bringing in high-level, youthful talent to an already playoff roster.
