The Indiana Pacers are a team on the rise. They’ve already made the Finals of the inaugural In-Season Tournament, and they currently stand amongst the top six of the Eastern Conference, safe from the Play-In Round for now. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton has blossomed into a mega-star this year, Myles Turner continues to anchor the middle with flair, and key additions such as Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and Bruce Brown Jr. are providing valuable minutes.
And yet, there are many who feel that the Pacers could be doing more, pushing their potential even further as they seek to return to relevance in the NBA landscape. This feeling seems only natural, as Haliburton and the Pacers have already taken several games against former champions like the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as holding their own against the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers in recent weeks. Why not envision a world in which Indy can make a deep postseason run, possibly as far as the franchise’s first championship since its ABA days?
Smoke Surrounding the Pacers
To that end, the Pacers have allegedly been quite active in trade rumors in recent weeks, from frequent links to Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors to an alleged desire to deal Buddy Hield and his expiring contract. While team president Kevin Pritchard and general manager Chad Buchanan obviously cannot publicly address such speculation, the buzz surrounding this team and what it might do is growing too loud to ignore. The smoke is building towards what could be an incredible fire, if the Pacers play their cards right.
The thing is, playing one’s cards right when it comes to a trade in professional sports is tricky, especially given the NBA’s mandate that salaries must be balanced in any player swap. More importantly, while the allure of a championship is thrilling, executives have to make a conscious decision regarding whether or not to sacrifice the long term potential of a roster for the short term adrenaline rush of a championship ring. Pritchard and Buchanan know this, and they’ve shown through their accumulation of draft picks and young talent that they’re not just going to sell the farm for any profit they can get.
Take the offer in the above linked article as an example. Brown and Hield, plus a draft pick, for Siakam. Only one draft pick would be involved, and there is no mention of the Pacers giving up Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Andrew Nembhard, or any other members of the young core that the team envisions surrounding Haliburton into the future. That’s a pretty clear indication that Indy doesn’t idly wish to endanger the chemistry that has made the Pacers one of the most exciting teams to watch in the entire league, and that any move they will make will only be to further that particular goal, with the expectation (presumably) that it would one day lead to greatness.
All-Star Weekend is Coming
With All-Star Weekend coming up next month, the eyes of the NBA world will be on Indianapolis. The Pacers will no doubt plan on putting their best foot forward and telling everyone that they are a force, and will continue to make only the moves that will make them even more so for years to come, not just right now. They are in a position of strength when it comes to bargaining, as their upcoming salary cap situation has them at a point where, having demonstrated through the All-Star festivities what the city has to offer, they can bring big-time free agents in to run with Haliburton and Turner, and put the rest of the league on notice.
It’s exciting to think of a player like Siakam, who averages the kind of numbers that would put him in line for an appearance at the All-Star Game, joining the Pacers’ ranks. That said, it’s also important to note that every transaction has a cost, and sometimes that cost is too high. Siakam has indicated he’d like to see what the free agent market will bring him at season’s end when his contract expires, and while the team could possibly convince him to stay, Indy could also see him walk, and end up at a net loss having traded for him.
Conclussion
Should the Pacers sit on their hands? Not if it means making the team genuinely better both now and in the future. The Pacers’ front office aren’t suckers, however, and they’re not going to cash in all their chips for what might turn out to be fools’ gold. Any deal they make should be sound, well thought out, and balanced for both short and long term gain. Fortunately, the top decision makers are in exactly the right spot to do just that, so patience should be warranted as the effort to lure more help for Haliburton continues.