How This Trade Impacts Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are in a great spot to add even more assets to their rebuild. They have a ton of cap space, which can be used to take on unwanted contracts with draft capital attached to it, which they are trying to do here with Russell Westbrook.

The Pacers have made it very clear they want two first-round picks for Westbrook, which is understandable.

From their perspective, it should cost one pick to take on Westbrook’s contract, using up all of their cap space. Another one, at a minimum, should be included for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield who are both legitimate rotation players.

The 2027 first-round pick has already been offered and will be heading to Indiana. The Lakers have offered two second-round picks, but that isn’t something Indiana was interested in. So, they could counter with something like this.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: Indiana Pacers’ Bold Trade Asking Price To Take Russell Westbrook From Los Angeles Lakers

The 2029 first-round pick is put on the table but has some protection on it. If Los Angeles reaches the depths of the league and bottoms out, they will retain the pick. If they are competitive again, it will head to Indiana as long as it doesn’t land in the top 8.

To make up for that, the Lakers are also including Talen Horton-Tucker in the deal. Horton-Tucker struggled last season when presented with a larger role in the rotation, but he possesses a lot of potential. 

LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: Indiana Pacers’ Bold Trade Asking Price To Take Russell Westbrook From Los Angeles Lakers

That potential is difficult to develop in Los Angeles, where the focus is winning championships. With the Pacers, the focus will be on taking his game to the next level and developing his skill set alongside the other young players on the roster.