Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: 2022 First-Round Pick (No. 6 – IND), 2023 First-Round Pick (IND)
Indiana Pacers Receive: 2022 First-Round Pick (No. 2 – OKC)
If the Indiana Pacers are adamant about moving up in the draft, they should make a call to the Oklahoma City Thunder before they talk to anyone else.
They feel like a prime trade-down candidate. General Manager Sam Presti might do just about anything to land an unprotected 2023 first-round pick. If he’s not enamored with any of Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, or Jabari Smith Jr., he may prefer to continue accumulating the largest collection of draft capital in NBA history.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are less inclined to play the long game in terms of their organization’s history. They’d probably love to complete their rebuild this summer. Selecting one of the top three in the 2022 NBA Draft would allow them to do exactly that.
In Banchero, they’d acquire an offensive engine that should pair nicely with Haliburton, an elite off-ball threat. On the other hand, Smith Jr.’s lethal floor-spacing would enhance Haliburton’s abilities as an on-ball creator.
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Finally, Holmgren could be a defensive anchor that allows the Pacers to trade Turner for value elsewhere.
If the Oklahoma City Thunder are interested in making a deal, the Indiana Pacers may find it too tempting to pass on.
