Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F Justin Holiday
Indiana Pacers Receive: G Kendrick Nunn
A one-for-one swap like this may seem like the Indiana Pacers are getting scammed, but they do have a need for another backcourt piece and Kendrick Nunn is definitely an intriguing young guard.
Nunn has not played this season yet due to a knee injury, but he has produced in Miami the last couple of seasons.
Before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers this past offseason, Nunn spent two seasons with the Heat and averaged 15.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shot 45.8% from the floor, 36.4% from three-point range.
Finishing as the runner-up for Rookie of the Year during the 2019-20 season, Kendrick Nunn is an all-around balanced guard that could provide the Pacers’ second-unit with immediate scoring in wake of T.J. McConnell being out indefinitely because of a wrist injury.
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The Lakers could just hold onto Nunn and play him when he is healthy, but he does not move great off-the-ball and it would be hard to fit him in next to LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
Justin Holiday moves great off-the-ball and is exactly the kind of “3-and-D” player this team needs to add. He is a spot-up shooter and is an above-average defender, making him an affordable and high-value player on the wing in Los Angeles.
It is possible that they would have to attach a second-round pick to this trade along with Nunn, but overall this is not much value that the Lakers would have to give away in order to acquire a talented, experienced player that only makes them better.
As mentioned before, Indiana is on the verge of rebuilding and they are going to be searching for ways to add young, dynamic talents to their roster. Both Nunn and Holiday are only under contract for one more season, but compared to Justin Holiday, Kendrick Nunn provides some balance in Indiana behind Malcolm Brogdon.
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He is more than capable of making plays for himself and being a dependable scorer, he could fit in nicely as a young piece on this team. Whether or not Kendrick Nunn would stay in Indiana long-term is a question mark, but he is more than capable of succeeding in a back-up point guard role, as he has been a consistent starter his last two seasons.
