How This Trade Impacts Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers were rumored to be breaking up their jumbo frontcourt pairing for Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner this offseason. It has been a rumor floating around for a while and once again it has proven to be just that; a rumor.
Both big men remain on the roster, but to help diversify their frontcourt, they take a shot on Thaddeus Young in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
Young has the skill set that he can play alongside either Sabonis or Turner, two players who excel at playing the center position. The former Georgia Tech product could even play some small-ball center should Rick Carlisle need to shrink his lineup.
Young added another element to his game last season, becoming a facilitator for the Chicago Bulls. He had a career-high 4.3 assists per game, which would help the Pacers keep some continuity throughout their lineups.
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Sabonis is an excellent playmaker from the frontcourt as well, so any sets they run with the starters could be run with the second unit as well with Young taking on his role.
The package to acquire Thaddeus Young isn’t anything that should give Indiana pause. They have been looking to move on from Jeremy Lamb, as they don’t have many minutes to give on the wing.
Goga Bitadze has yet to carve out a role for himself, so flipping him for an established player that can help get them into the postseason could be the route Indiana takes.
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The 2022 first-round pick having lottery protections gives Indiana some insurance. If they struggle again and don’t qualify for the postseason, they would retain their pick and San Antonio would receive something else. Sometimes it is a first-round pick with different protections a year later or if it doesn’t convey, it is converted into multiple second-round picks.
