Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal 

You’ve probably guessed this already, but this deal has nothing to do with acquiring Bertans on the Pacers’ end. 

If they were looking for veterans, they’d hang onto Turner. Moreover, if they were looking for impact veterans, they’d probably pass on Bertans. With that said, the Pacers probably shouldn’t be looking for veterans at all. 

In fact, the Pacers should be looking at the 2023 draft. There is talent on this team, but they are far from ready to win games. At the moment, the best thing the Pacers could do is lose them and hope to maximize their lottery odds. 

This deal seeks to help them with that goal.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Dallas Mavericks Updates

Of course, bottoming out isn’t the only benefit to the Pacers here. They’re also getting an unprotected first-round pick. For a team in their position, that’s critical. 

Should the Mavericks really part with one?