The Indiana Pacers are a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference. They have compiled quite a collection of young talent and look poised to move up the standings in the 2023-24 NBA season.
The Pacers went 35-47 last season, but when All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was in the lineup, they were a .500 team, going 28-28. With another year to gel and learn under head coach Rick Carlisle, the arrow certainly points up for the franchise.
All offseason, they have been a team mentioned in trade rumors, a franchise that could strike if the right upgrade became available. One of their better trade chips is veteran shooting guard Buddy Hield, who is on an expiring contract.
Hield’s contract is an attractive trade chip for teams looking to rebuild or clear long-term salaries. If the Pacers are going to make a splash, he will almost assuredly be included in the deal. One player they could look to acquire in such a deal, in the opinion of Jack Simone of FanSided, is OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors are well overdue for a retooling of the roster. The time to do so could be now, especially since Fred VanVleet left in free agency for the Houston Rockets. He can potentially be a two-way star and would fit the timeline in Indiana.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Indiana Pacers, Dyson Daniels, D’Angelo Russell & OG Anunoby Updates
If the Pacers want to continue building out their young core, a player who could interest them in Simeon’s opinion, is Dyson Daniels of the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans should be looking to do everything they can to build a winner around Zion Williamson or he will be the next star looking for the nearest exit out of New Orleans.
The third player that Simone mentioned is D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell re-signed with Los Angeles this offseason and is returning to a roster with a lot more backcourt depth and ball-handling options.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Indiana Pacers, Dyson Daniels, D’Angelo Russell & OG Anunoby Updates
Hield is someone that the Lakers have had interest in previously, as they nearly acquired him from the Sacramento Kings before pivoting to the blockbuster Russell Westbrook deal. Surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis with 3-point shooters is a recipe for success and there aren’t many better in the business than Hield.
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