Heading into the NBA offseason, All-Star guard Zach LaVine is one of the hottest names on the free-agent market. Despite the Chicago Bulls taking a massive step forward this season, it appears LaVine still intends to weigh all of his options this summer.
Given he is an All-Star talent at the apex of his career, LaVine is sure to have a handful of suitors inquiring about his services. One team that could make sense as a possible landing spot is the Indiana Pacers.
Judging by how they shipped away pieces at the trade deadline, the Pacers appear to be heading towards a rebuild. That being said, they could quickly pivot to simply re-tooling and putting together an interesting lineup.
While Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert were traded this season, Indiana still has experience on its roster. Most notably, Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon. Pair that with young players like Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte, and the Pacers have a good group of talent to entice a free agent like Zach LaVine.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Should Chicago Bulls, Suitors Worry About This Zach LaVine News?
Haliburton was trending in the right direction before getting to Indiana and took another step forward after the trade deadline. In 26 games with the Indiana Pacers, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.6 assists, and 1.8 steals. A small sample size but still extremely promising for a 21-year-old in their second season. If Indiana wanted to capitalize on the up-and-coming guard, they could make a big swing for LaVine this summer.
From a fit perspective, a move like this would work. The Pacers could roll out a three-guard lineup of Haliburton/Brogdon/LaVine that creates a ton of matchup issues for opposing defenses. They will certainly be giving up some size, but Haliburton’s long wingspan and Turner protecting the rim should keep them afloat on that end of the floor.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Should Chicago Bulls, Suitors Worry About This Zach LaVine News?
In today’s game, having multiple players who can put the ball on the floor and create is essential. Not only would signing LaVine give the Pacers three capable ballhandlers, but three players who can score on all three levels as well. The pick-and-pop combinations with Turner’s ability to space the floor are endless.
The key to really making this work is finding a big wing to fill that fifth spot in the lineup. A defensive stopper who can guard wing players will be a necessity, given the size of the three guards.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Should Chicago Bulls, Suitors Worry About This Zach LaVine News?
It might not be a finals-contending lineup right away, but a signing of this magnitude would quickly shoot the Indiana Pacers up in the standings. Adding Zach LaVine to the mix gives Indiana the talent to hang around with just about anyone when fully healthy.
