The Indiana Pacers are happy after leaving Paris with a blowout win against the Spurs. After being shut out in the first game, the Pacers were able to respond with a 136-98 win.
That win shows the difference between when the Pacers play great and when they play poorly. There is too big a gap between the two.
If the Pacers really want to make a deep run in the playoffs, they need to make a big move to close the gap between their ceiling and their floor. A run with Zach LaVine could help them with that.
Lavine is one of the biggest names in the trading market. Multiple teams are eyeing him as a big piece to help them for the playoffs.
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Indiana hasn’t been afraid to make big moves if they think it can significantly help them make a deep run. They made a similar move last season by trading for Pascal Siakam.
That article from Sporting News makes it clear that LaVine would help their offense significantly and that it wouldn’t hurt their defense enough to not make a deal.
LaVine has gotten a lot better defensively this season because he is healthy. That improvement in his defense has many more teams interested in signing him.
The problem with making a deal for LaVine is how expensive he is. He will make $43 million this year and $45.9 million and $48.9 million over the next two years.
Frankly, that’s way too rich for the Pacers. For a trade to work, they would have to add too many key pieces from their rotation.
A trade for LaVine would make the team worse this year, not better.
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Indiana has the resources to make a deal. They need to find someone who will compliment Tyrese Haliburton and not hinder him.
A ball-dominant player like LaVine would hinder what Haliburton does best. They better start looking for a deal for another player at the trade deadline.
LaVine is averaging 24 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this year.
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