Three moves that could set the Pacers up for a franchise-altering draft.
Acquire Obi Toppin from the Knicks and take advantage of that fractured relationship. The best deal New York is going to see is a late first, so pay that price for your starting Power Forward for a year while your rookie develops on the second unit. Standard practice for the Pacers via Mathurin and PG.
The Lakers need cheap labor to fill out the back end of their roster and they need shooting wings. LA may be willing to bet on a bounce back year for Duarte and they acquire 29 and 32 for two cheap young players on the end of their bench. Pacers are able to move up 12 spots. Lakers gain Duarte and 32 just for moving back.
Buddy heads home to Dallas. This move for the Mavericks accomplishes two things… spreads the floor for Luka with Hield’s sharpshooting and they clear the awful Bertans contract. Pacers then gain the 10th pick.
Pacers walk into the draft with picks 7, 10, and 17. I’d personally love to see that filled out with Taylor Hendricks, Gradey Dick, and Leonard Miller if he falls to 17.