How This Trade Impacts Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers began their rebuild last season when they moved Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert. While ownership led by Herb Simon doesn’t want to bottom out in a fashion similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder, they should be open to continuing the rebuild by moving some of the veterans they have on the roster still.
Malcolm Brogdon seems like a good bet to be on the move. Had Myles Turner not injured his foot, he likely would have been traded ahead of the deadline with Sabonis and LeVert. Now, in this deal, both are moved for more assets to help in the future.
Indiana would have picks No. 6 and 7 in the 2022 NBA Draft, giving them a chance to add two blue-chip prospects to the roster. That is good ammunition to move up in the draft as well should there be a prospect that may not fall into that range.
Keon Johnson can be considered another late-round pickup as well, as he enters his second season in the NBA. Athletic, albeit a very raw prospect, Johnson has lockdown defender qualities that should help him earn minutes right away.
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Eric Bledsoe is on an expiring deal, opening up more money to spend in 2023. He can soak up minutes as a veteran backup guard behind Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte as well. If he plays well, he could be flipped at the deadline for more assets.
The future first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks could be a late first-rounder as well, but first-round picks are valuable no matter where they land. Indiana would have even more ammunition now at their disposal to swing a trade down the line once they are ready to compete again in the Eastern Conference.
