Making the Case: Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are in line for a full-on rebuild after trading Domantas Sabonis away in return for promising second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton. They have a handful of useful veterans that still need to be dealt away in return for more young talent and future draft capital.
Along with Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon needs to be found a new home now that he’s eligible to be traded after signing his extension last summer. While there should be plenty of suitors for the veteran guard’s steady hand and reliable contributions, this Knicks’ package should be tough to beat.
Mitchell Robinson gives Tyrese Haliburton a pick-and-roll partner who can rip down lobs, create second-chance points off of offensive rebounds, and effectively anchor the Pacers’ defense. Robinson is a generational shot-blocker who needs to reel himself in at times to be a more reliable interior anchor but has the potential to be a transformative defender.
Cam Reddish has never lived up to his blue-chip nomination, but he has all of the tools to be a two-way star one day. With a little better shot selection and a new environment, Reddish may be able to string all of those tools together into actual production.
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The Pacers have a future franchise cornerstone in Haliburton, but they need to act quickly to find him some running mates. Reddish and Robinson give them two fliers with towering potential, and the 11th-overall selection provides another shot to add a promising rookie.