1. Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers look like a rudderless boat right now. They don’t really have an identity or direction that the team is going in. They brought back Rick Carlisle as head coach hoping that would be enough of a change, but there is only so much he can do with a mismatched, unbalanced roster.
There is some talent on this Pacers team, but things are not always clicking. Indiana is middle of the road in virtually every category and is 10-16 on the season. They need a shake-up in the worst way and Russell Westbrook would provide them with one.
The Indiana Pacers were one of the teams interested in acquiring Ben Simmons leading up to the season, so the backcourt could be where they are looking to make a move. Westbrook would be a solid backcourt partner for Malcolm Brogdon or Caris LeVert given the differing skill sets each possesses.
Acquiring Westbrook would also help the Pacers lean into an identity. He changes the look of any roster that he is on and would bring a jolt to a Pacers squad that is seemingly stuck in the mud.
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The current core that the Indiana Pacers have could have run its course. Adding Westbrook to shake things up would help them make a postseason push. If things don’t work out, they can try and shop him over the offseason as an expiring contract.
