There was quite a stir in NBA trade rumors created last week when it was revealed that the Indiana Pacers are seriously considering going down the path of a rebuild. The Pacers have been a team stuck in the middle in recent years and are looking to get out of that rut, hoping one step backward would lead to multiple steps forward.
Indiana is not a franchise that has really ever undergone a full rebuild. The last time they selected inside the top-10 was 1989 when they selected George McCloud out of Florida State. Paul Geroge was the No. 10 overall pick in 2010 to give some insight into how long it has been since the Pacers came close to bottoming out.
Since the report about the team looking to make some moves was shared, the team has begun winning. They are currently riding a three-game winning streak and are only 1.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the final NBA Play-In Tournament spot.
But, that is unlikely to change their plans. A three-game sample likely isn’t enough to convince ownership to change course now as the Indiana Pacers have been considering a move of that magnitude for years.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Pacers-Thunder Trade Sends Domantas Sabonis to OKC
The three players that were mentioned as possible trade candidates were All-Star Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Caris LeVert. Turner has made it clear that he wants a bigger role and given his skill set, he could very well be the most sought-after player of the aforementioned trio.
But, Sabonis is expected to generate a lot of interest as well. The Athletic recently provided an update on him and named two teams that have shown interest in the past in the Gonzaga product.
“Pacers two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis is expected to generate strong interest and is among the attractive players who could be available in a trade. The Suns and Kings have shown interest in recent years, sources said.”
The Phoenix Suns were in the market for some frontcourt help this offseason following the knee injury Dario Saric suffered in the NBA Finals. At 25-years old, Sabonis would fit the team’s timeline as someone that can help them win now but be a part of the foundation in the future.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Pacers-Thunder Trade Sends Domantas Sabonis to OKC
The Sacramento Kings are looking to avoid setting the NBA record for longest playoff drought in league history. They have been pursuing upgrades, as they were linked to Ben Simmons and Pascal Siakam previously. Domantas Sabonis would help fill the gaping hole they have at the power forward spot.
