New York Knicks Receive: F Domantas Sabonis, F Torrey Craig
Indiana Pacers Receive: F Obi Toppin, C Mitchell Robinson, F Kevin Knox II, G Kemba Walker, NYK 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-7 Protected)
Ever since Paul George was traded following the 2016-17 season, the Indiana Pacers really have not been a successful franchise. They have gone just 188-152 (55.3%) since then and have won just three playoff games, failing to advance past the first-round in three consecutive seasons.
It is not surprising to see them heading towards a rebuild given their lack of success over the years, but at the same time, they are not going to give up Domantas Sabonis for anything. He is one of the best frontcourt players in the NBA and is a two-time All-Star, so in order for the Pacers to give him up, they will need to be receiving a handful of value.
Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox are all young talents the Pacers could show interest in, but Kemba Walker being added to this trade is a bit eye-opening. He is a former All-Star point guard that has not played well over the last year or so, but at the same time, the Pacers have a big need in their backcourt right now.
T.J. McConnell is currently out indefinitely after having wrist surgery and he is not expected to return anytime before near the end of February. As a result, Malcolm Brogdon is the only primary facilitator and ball-handler in the Pacers’ backcourt.
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Being able to add someone like Kemba Walker may not be a terrible idea for the Pacers, especially since he is only under contract through next season.
Walker has fallen out of the rotation in New York and with both Knox and Robinson being in the final year of their rookie contracts, the New York Knicks may actually be receptive to trade youth in favor of someone like Domantas Sabonis.
Obi Toppin is someone both the Knicks’ front-office and their fan-base love, but if they are to keep R.J. Barrett in trade discussions surrounding Sabonis, it is hard to imagine that the Knicks would be able to keep Toppin as well.
With Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson under contract in the frontcourt, Mitchell Robinson has suddenly become expendable and someone the Knicks may not want to invest a whole lot of money in when his contract is up this offseason.
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Maybe the Pacers would not want to take on this kind of liability either since their payroll is tight, but there is a lot of value to be had in this trade with the New York Knicks for Indiana.
