Pacers’ accelerated timeline may have them looking to improve at trade deadline
One key factor in this quiet NBA trade market midway through January is the league’s dearth of obvious sellers. 23 of the 30 member clubs are clear in their intent to compete for the playoffs, and not just for draft capital or prospects. Even the 12-33 Detroit Pistons remained competitive with executives about Bojan Bogdanovic’s retention. Alec BurksSources say that there are no great returns for either veteran perimeter scorer.
Indiana’s surprising success has done no favors for hopeful buyers around the league, both in terms of filling a coveted East playoff spot and perhaps eliminating another expected seller from the board. At the onset of this season, Indiana expected to vie for a top-five pick in this June’s draft, sending 12 staffers to Las Vegas in October to scout Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. Today, the Pacers Current playoff position is 23-19, and 6th.
There’s indeed a growing sense among rival teams that Indiana will search for upgrades ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, albeit with an eye trained toward players who fit the Pacers’ long-term vision. This isn’t a possible scenario. Jae Crowder Bogdanovic is being pursued by a suitor or a contender in the playoffs.
Yahoo Sports has learned that Indiana has been seeking a power forward for many seasons. This position seems to be the right place to make an upgrade along with center Myles Turner who has excelled this season alongside the point guard Tyrese Haliburton. The status of Haliburton’s knee injury, sustained during Wednesday night’s loss to New York, could certainly impact Indiana’s deadline decision-making.
Highly valued Pacers Keegan Murray in last year’s draft, sources said, before he was selected fourth by Sacramento and Indiana happily came away with stellar rookie shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin At the sixth selection. All of Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson And Aaron Nesmith They have been given the chance to play next to Turner at forward this year. Nesmith’s strong performance from that starting position has brought the most encouraging results, and the Vanderbilt product appears in line to hold that role at least until Indiana finds greater ammunition at power forward.
If Indiana wants to add to its developing core, the Pacers have three first-round picks available in the upcoming draft. Indiana has its own pick, plus projected late opening-round selections coming from the Cavaliers — by way of last year’s deadline deal of Caris LeVert — as well as from Boston — from last July’s trade of Malcom Brodgon to the Celtics. While the Pacers had initially marked second-year Guard Chris Duarte out of trade talks with some opposing personnel as unacceptable, several front office executives told Yahoo Sports that Indiana has now made the 25 year-old available for dialogue.
Would a combination of Duarte and draft capital be enough to satisfy Atlanta’s desired value in return for John Collins? Yahoo Sports sources said that Indiana had discussed internally the possibility of adding Collins.
Over the offseason, the Hawks pitched a similar concept of Collins to New Orleans for Trey Murphy and first-round draft compensation, sources said, although Duarte’s current league-wide value does appear lower than that of Murphy. At this juncture, the Pacers would not need to match Collins’ salary if they take him into cap room.
Indiana could even consider pursuing the forward if the Pacers are serious about sending significant draft capital. Raptors To target Anunoby, a former Hoosier OG? PJ Washington would present another, more cost-effective acquisition at this year’s deadline before the current Hornets forward reaches free agency this offseason.
We’ll learn more about Indiana’s accelerated timeline by the result of the Pacers’ final contract discussions with Turner. Indiana and Turner’s new representatives at CAA are in fluid extension conversations, sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports. The maximum dollar figure Indiana can offer Turner in a simple extension would be $96.7 million over four seasons, and that is indeed the early range for Turner’s talks that has circled around the league.
Turner, though, is in line for a far richer payday if he and the Pacers can renegotiate and extend his contract, thanks to the team’s $27 million in outstanding cap room — should they not acquire a substantial salary like that of Collins first. With that much flexibility, the Pacers can boost Turner’s $18 million salary this season up to his maximum of roughly $37.1 million at seven years of service, and then the team has the capability to drop his 2023-24 salary as low as $22.3 million. Indiana will inevitably need to spend in some capacity because the Pacers are roughly $15 million below the league’s $111 million salary floor, and the team would be required to disperse that amount in even increments throughout the roster if Indiana’s payroll doesn’t reach the floor by year’s end.
Turner could be able to fill the gap with the significant payday he is looking for. He can renegotiate and extend to upward of $180 million over four years, according to cap calculations provided to Yahoo Sports, with the Pacers’ recent four-year, $133 million offer sheet to Deandre Ayton an obvious benchmark any agent would use in negotiations. Turner has expressed a desire to reach unrestricted free agency in the past, sources said, but Turner also would welcome a long-term future in Indiana, now that he has emerged as the franchise’s focal point in the frontcourt. Turner would be out of the running for six months if he doesn’t agree to terms.
Turner’s trade chatter has indeed cooled. The Hornets were a possible landing spot for Turner for many years. Charlotte appears not to be keen on upgrading its roster before the deadline. Sources said that New Orleans and Dallas have also lost interest in Charlotte over the past seasons. The Lakers seem to be content with a larger return for their 2027- and 2029 first round picks than any potential acquisition of Turner or Hield, which was discussed prior to the season.
If Turner’s contract talks ultimately stall, New York and Toronto have registered interest in recent transaction cycles, sources said. Sources said that Turner’s contract talks could be stalled. Knicks Hold a wealth of first-round draft capital that you can spend, despite the recent performance from Mitchell Robinson may quell any of New York’s attempts to upgrade its frontcourt. The Clippers Yahoo Sports sources said that Turner is still a potential suitor.
Indiana’s center most likely to be traded is fourth-year big man Goga Bitadze. If an opportunity arises, the Pacers will be willing to work in tandem with Bitadze’s representation to find him a new team, sources said, especially with Daniel Theis The team is on track to make a return within the next few days. Bitadze has already seen limited playing time and has been uninterested in joining Indiana’s G League outfit in Fort Wayne.
Will Jazz be active on the market?
After Utah’s early-season success, league personnel are expecting the Jazz to reintroduce another seller into the trade deadline. Utah has received many calls from both sides. Malik Beasley And Jarred Vanderbilt, sources told Yahoo Sports, with the Jazz’s perceived valuation of a first-round pick for each player. Vanderbilt could be another young forward that the Pacers believe has enough potential to grow with Turner.
Sources say that the Jazz and Hawks discussed a deal regarding John Collins for Vanderbilt and Beasley, but that Utah has also lobbied Atlanta to get a first-rounder to complete the framework.
Jordan Clarkson According to sources, Clarkson is not currently being considered a trade candidate as Utah wants to keep the veteran scorer. Clarkson seems to be on his way to unrestricted, free agency.
How do the Suns move Jae Crowder
A three-team framework continues to be the most likely avenue that eventually grants Jae Crowder’s exit out of Phoenix. The Suns must move forward in order to capture a desired target such as the Hornets. Jalen McDanielsPhoenix could try to lure in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for instance. Bucks They have been regularly discussed Grayson Allen McDaniels will be playing with opposing teams. McDaniels is, however, a favorite Charlotte general manager Mitch Kupchak. Sources said that McDaniels would require more return than Allen and the second round capital Milwaukee can negotiate to land McDaniels with the Hornets.
The Suns also gave away opposing front offices, giving the impression that Phoenix is looking for more guard depth. They are targeting ball handlers who can serve as reserves to Chris Paul and long-term replacements for the future Hall of Fame floor general.
Washington is also interested in Collins. But Wizards officials have stood firm that the franchise intends to keep Kyle Kuzma — a known Hawks target —past the trade deadline and hope to re-sign the high-scoring forward this offseason after he declines the 2023-24 player option in his contract as expected.
76ers Looking ahead
Philadelphia will be active in exploring ways to add to the Sixers’ quest for a championship, especially following the team’s recent 15-3 stretch. Philadelphia officials were encouraged by the pairing. Joel Embiid And James Harden, as well as the team’s overall performance, despite each All-Star, Tyrese Maxey Injury can also result in other contributors losing significant time.
There is also a financial aspect that may underscore the Sixers’ trade deadline efforts if the right upgrades don’t materialize. This season currently marks Philadelphia’s third straight year as a taxpayer, which would subject the Sixers to pay repeater tax rates on every dollar over the 2023-24 tax threshold. The Sixers are hovering just above this year’s tax line at present, which could put players like Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle And Jaden Springer In trade conversation.
Yahoo Sports has learned that Richaun Holmes is available to trade. Sources from the league told Yahoo Sports. After signing a four-year, $46 million deal in the 2021 offseason, Holmes has not been a part of head coach Mike Brown’s rotation this season.