Would this trade make sense for the Indiana Pacers?
The Indiana Pacers are a prime example of how the personal perception we may have of the general direction of a team is important to put aside when analyzing the rationale of a hypothetical NBA trade scenario.
Would it make sense for the Pacers to tear down their roster and look to rebuild? Yes. Is that something they want to do? No. So, a former NBA MVP that has shown to raise the floor of a team as the lone superstar on a team could be of intrigue to a team like the Pacers in a vacuum.
If the main objective for the Pacers is to do what they can to make the playoffs during the 2021-22 season, making a trade for Russell Westbrook would actually make sense.
Now, gunning it to make the playoffs and not to build something sustainable to achieve a deep playoff run would be accomplished with a deal of this nature. However, landing Talen Horton-Tucker and a future round pick is intriguing to think about—adding future value to the deal.
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Giving up Myles Turner in a trade not only would mean the half-court defense would plummet in impact. He is also one of the few actual shooters on a team that ranks 28th in three-point percentage. Having to also part with Caris LeVert makes this all the more challenging.
Could giving all of that up be worth it to a franchise longing for a superstar? Only the Pacers owner would be able to answer that question. If short-terms results are the goal then ‘yes’ probably is the answer.
