If you’re an NBA fan, you love a good backcourt. Building around guards isn’t necessarily the safest route to an NBA title. Still, it’s a good bet to assemble a team that’s fun to watch – and can win a lot of games in the process.
For a while, it seemed like the league was trending toward guard play. The Splash Brothers kept the Golden State Warriors on top for a long time. The only Western Conference team to seriously rival them was the Houston Rockets behind James Harden and Chris Paul. Who has the best backcourt in the NBA right now?
It’s hard to say. Still, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in the running. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are among the best backcourts in the league. Unfortunately, it’s been suggested that Mitchell could eventually force his way out of Cleveland. Could the Indiana Pacers pair him with Tyrese Haliburton?
The Trade Proposal
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G/F Buddy Hield, G T.J. McConnell, G/F Bennedict Mathurin, 2025 First-Round Pick (IND), 2027 First-Round Pick (IND)
Indiana Pacers Receive: G Donovan Mitchell
Is the league moving away from backcourt-dominant play? That’s difficult to call. This season, a big man led his team to the championship. Nikola Jokic is uncontroversially the best player in the world.
It wasn’t long ago that Giannis Antetokoumnpo held that title. In between the Nuggets and Bucks’ respective title runs, the Warriors got another ring. They’re an unstoppable force when everything is clicking. Still, the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers won NBA titles with dominant frontcourts as well.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers & Indiana Pacers Updates
What’s the lesson here? Perhaps there isn’t one. To win an NBA title, a team needs to put the best team together that they can. That’s simple. Should the Pacers make a move for Mitchell while they’ve already got an elite backcourt?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
If Mitchell does hit the open market, his trade value may be depreciated to an extent. This would be the second time he left a small market team in recent years. Of course, that’s what makes this a risk for the Pacers – they’re a small-market team.
So, some Pacers fans would rather avoid this move. To be sure, parting with Mathurin and two first-round picks for a player who may leave them is a bold decision. Wait – aren’t we supposed to be convincing you that the Pacers should do this deal?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers & Indiana Pacers Updates
We are. Here’s the pitch: Haliburton and Mitchell could be the best backcourt in basketball. Meanwhile, they won’t have the same size concerns that Garland and Mitchell do – Haliburton is a big point guard. With Myles Turner anchoring the defense and spacing the floor, this duo could lead the Pacers to a deep playoff run. That could be enough to convince him to buy a house in Indiana. Should the Cavaliers help the Pacers make a home for Mitchell?
Why The Cleveland Cavaliers Do The Deal
Some Cavaliers fans won’t like this deal either. Let’s assume Mitchell requests a trade. Sure. Shouldn’t Cleveland pursue a high-end wing for him?
Perhaps. With that said, both Mathurin and Hield can play the 3. Acquiring Hield could be especially appealing. With a jumbo frontcourt duo in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers could play Hield at the 3. His elite movement shooting could compensate for the limited floor spacing between Allen and Mobley.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers & Indiana Pacers Updates
Yet, more than anything, this is about getting value for Mitchell. Mathurin is a young player with real star potential. Throw in a pair of first-round picks, and the Cavaliers could figure out the fit of their roster later – whether they’re building around a frontcourt or a backcourt.
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