Some NBA teams have an obvious need. For a long time, that was the case for the Indiana Pacers. This team needed a strong defender who could play the 4. Recently, the Pacers acquired that player.
The team traded for Pascal Siakam. This was a blockbuster midseason deal. Once Siakam develops chemistry with his new teammates, the Pacers should be a much stronger team. Are they done upgrading their roster?
It’s hard to say. The Pacers’ wing rotation is still shallow. Meanwhile, it’s been rumored that they’ll look to move Buddy Hield’s expiring contract. Could they flip it for Cameron Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets receive: G/F Buddy Hield, G T.J. McConnell, 2028 First-Round Pick (IND)
Indiana Pacers receive: F Cameron Johnson
The Pacers weren’t the only team in the NBA with an obvious need. With that said, some needs are easier to fill than others. Indiana could have gone about finding a defensive 4 in several ways. In the end, they opted to acquire a star in Siakam.
The Nets have an obvious need as well. It’s a slightly more difficult one to fill. This team needs a primary playmaker. More simply, they need an offensive star.
Those players aren’t always readily available. Teams prefer to hang onto them. The Nets have a need, but nobody’s going to help them fulfill it. Should they trade Johnson in the meantime?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Here’s what Brooklyn doesn’t need – 3-and-D wings. They have plenty of them. Between Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Royce O’Neale, and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Nets have a surplus of that archetype.
Do they need more assets? That’s debatable. The Nets do have several picks from other teams. With that said, they don’t control their own draft. If the Nets are going to make a competitive offer for a star offensive player down the line, they’ll likely need to find more first-round picks.
Here, they’re landing an unprotected first. The Nets should also enjoy the cap relief they’re receiving here – Hield and McConnell are both on expiring contracts. Should the Pacers commit to Johnson’s long-term deal?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
The Pacers are in for a penny. They may as well go in for a pound. This team sent three first-round picks to the Raptors in exchange for Siakam. Building through the draft isn’t an option for Indiana anymore.
That’s fine. The Pacers have had the best offense in the NBA this season – they’re ready to compete. With that in mind, they may not want to move Hield without replacing his elite floor spacing. That’s why they’d give up an unprotected first for Johnson.
After all, he’s a far superior defender to Hield. That will be key for a Pacers team that’s struggled on that end of the floor. Meanwhile, the Pacers are adding his defense without significantly compromising their floor spacing. Following this move, the Pacers may not need anything for a long time.
