Few teams in the NBA have had surprising starts this season, one of them being the Indiana Pacers. Indiana came into the season as a presumed rebuilding franchise after they traded away multiple veterans ahead of the deadline in February and over the summer during the offseason.
Rick Carlisle is getting the most out of the players on the team, many of which are young with plenty of room for development. The face of the franchise is now Tyrese Haliburton who was given the keys to the franchise and he has run with it.
He is currently leading the NBA with 10.6 assists per game and his presence is helping elevate the performance of his teammates. So much so, the Pacers’ course of action may already be changing this season.
While many assumed the Pacers would continue the rebuild, there is a chance that they become buyers and look to upgrade the roster in the coming weeks. One player that they have their sights set on, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, is John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks.
“Another team to keep an eye on as a Collins destination is Indiana. Sources said the Pacers have told inquiring teams they’re searching for a power forward to join their rebuild that features a blooming backcourt of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Atlanta Hawks & Indiana Pacers Updates
Right now the Pacers have been starting Jalen Smith at the power forward spot alongside Myles Turner at the center position. Both have played well, but Turner’s future with the franchise is up in the air as he approaches free agency.
Adding Collins to that mix would certainly provide the Pacers with a high-flying option that would pair well with Haliburton running the show. Indiana would also be betting on Collins getting back on track as he is in the midst of the worst season of his career.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Atlanta Hawks & Indiana Pacers Updates
Buying low is always a nice opportunity for franchises to take advantage of and this would be that kind of chance for the Pacers. Collins is signed through 2026 after agreeing to a five-year, $125 million deal as a restricted free agent in 2021. The price to take on that contract, given his level of play, shouldn’t be too high either.
