The Indiana Pacers were hoping that bringing Rick Carlisle back as head coach would help turn around the team’s fortunes. There is some talent on the team, but they could not get things to click in one season under Nate Bjorkgren. Unfortunately for them, the 2021-22 NBA season has been more of the same.
Indiana is 19-35 on the season, seven games out of a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament. This is shaping up to be another lost season for the Pacers, who are reportedly ready to head into a bit of a rebuild.
In what could perhaps serve as the beginning of the rebuild, the Pacers moved Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the two teams facing off on Sunday. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner are expected to be potentially on the move next.
The Pacers are beginning what is expected to be a roster makeover, with big men Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner prominent in trade talks. Rubio’s expiring contract — worth $17.8 million — will drop the Pacers to $94 million in payroll this offseason and move them $26 million below the cap. The Pacers join the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs among teams with significant cap space in free agency. Rubio is lost for the season with an ACL injury.
Conventional wisdom would say that Turner would be the player on the move. His skill set is garnering a ton of attention as he has the ‘unicorn skillset’ so many teams seek.
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Turner is an elite rim protector, leading the NBA with 2.8 blocks per game. He is also a capable floor spacer offensively, knocking down 34.9 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career.
Alas, Turner is currently dealing with a stress reaction in his foot. Not knowing for sure when he will be back on the court, teams are likely shying away from acquiring him. Their trade offers have likely diminished as well as no one will pay a premium for a player who may not be able to help for the stretch run.
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So, that leaves Sabonis as the likelier of the two to be traded. However, the price to acquire him would be a lot more than Turner. The two-time All-Star isn’t an elite defender, but what he offers offensively is something Indiana can ask for a premium price in exchange for.
There haven’t been as many teams connected to Domantas Sabonis as Myles Turner, but he is healthy and would bring back the biggest package for the Pacers to start retooling their roster with. Two teams to keep an eye on in the Sabonis sweepstakes are the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings.
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The Kings are desperate to snap a 15-year playoff drought, something Indiana can make the most of. They could be willing to pay more than other teams given their level of desperation and it is something the Indiana Pacers should take advantage of. Meanwhile, the Hornets are seeking a big man upgrade.
