Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal

You may have expected to see Myles Turner in this package. We couldn’t include him in good concious – his fit alongside Ben Simmons is simply too good for the Pacers to pass on.

After all, Turner is a career 34.9% three-point shooter. That’s the type of floor-spacing that Simmons needs from a big man in order to maximize his effectiveness.

Meanwhile, the two could make for one of the best defensive duos in the league. Very few big men are more impactful as rim protectors in drop coverage than Turner.

On the other hand, Simmons is one of the league’s very best defenders, period. With him at the point of attack and Turner as the last line of defense, the Pacers could be one of the league’s top point-preventing teams in 2022-23.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Indiana Pacers & Brooklyn Nets Updates

Of course, they’re taking a gamble here. We’ve already outlined Simmons’ limitations in terms of shooting and availability. There is a risk here –

But if it pays off, it could have the Pacers back in the perennial playoff picture.