Caution: This trade will be legal December 15 after Obi Toppin’s trade restriction expires.
Comment Opinions Please. Is This Fair?
Trade Breakdown
IND: Jae’Sean Tate, Jock Landale, & 2026 TOR 2nd
HOU: Chris Boucher & 2027 TOR 2nd
TOR: Obi Toppin
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Why Indiana Does This?
With both Wiseman & Jackson out for the year with torn achilles, the Pacers need to acquire a legitimate backup center behind Turner who can provide valuable minutes off the bench. Then Indiana also needs more perimeter defense, but not in the form of another guard. This trade here addresses both issues for Indiana. Landale gives them a backup center who’s shown flashes of being really good in limited minutes & Tate gives them a SF off the bench who can guard out on the perimeter while not getting in the way of all the other guards’ minutes. Moving on from Toppin also allows Jarace to be the full time PF going forward.
Next Moves To Make
Send Isaiah Jackson to the Bulls for 2028 Top 45 Protected SAC 2nd
Sign PG Markelle Fultz
Pacers Ideal Starting Lineup:
Haliburton, Nembhard, Mathurin, Siakam, & Turner
Backup Five:
McConnell, Nesmith, Tate, Walker, & Landale
Rest Of Bench:
Fultz, Sheppard, Furphy, Johnson, & Wiseman
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Why Houston Does This?
They don’t really need Tate & Landale with how deep their roster already is. It’s tough for both these guys to get minutes with guys like Brooks, Jabari, Sengun, Whitmore, Eason, & Adams all ahead of them. This trades lands them an expiring in Boucher who can play if needed & a future 2nd while also opening an extra roster spot to add another veteran voice off the bench.
Next Moves To Make
Sign SG Justin Holiday
Sign SF Reggie Bullock
Rockets Ideal Starting Lineup:
VanVleet, Green, Brooks, Jabari, & Sengun
Backup Five:
Amen, Sheppard, Whitmore, Eason, & Adams
Rest Of Bench:
Holiday, Holiday, Bullock, Green, & Boucher
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Why Toronto Does This?
Toppin would be a really nice fit on the Raptors squad as a PF off the bench. He would give Scottie, Quickley, & RJ an elite lob threat option & someone who can hit open corner threes when they’re driving to the rack. Also, at the price of only Boucher & a couple 2nds, this seems like quite the steal for Toronto.
Raptors Ideal Starting Lineup:
Quickley, Dick, Barrett, Scottie, & Poeltl
Backup Five:
Mitchell, Brown, Agbaji, Toppin, & Olynyk
Rest Of Bench:
Shead, Walter, Temple, Mogbo, & Fernando
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