4. Indiana Pacers
Why the Blazers make this trade
I heard this hypothetical trade on the Dunc’d On Basketball NBA Podcast. They were doing a mock trade deadline podcast, and Kevin Pelton of ESPN landed this deal for the Blazers.
This trade gets the Blazers below the luxury tax line and saves them long-term money by getting out of Maurice Harkless contract. Noah Vonleh has fallen out of the rotation and is a restricted free agent this summer. The Pacers could use a young, physical rebounder in their frontcourt.
Al Jefferson would be a solid veteran to add to this young Blazers team. He is owed $9 million this season, and only $4 million of his $10 million is guaranteed for next year. The Blazers could keep Jefferson as a nice backup center and veteran locker room player. They could also release him and then not have to pay him $6 million. That would save Portland about $16.3 million.
Why the Pacers make this trade
The Pacers are in need of wing help, and Maurice Harkless would be a nice get for them. This is his sixth season in the NBA, and he is still 24. Harkless is long, athletic, slashing wing. He plays good defense and can be useful on offense. Harkless could see more consistent minutes with the Pacers, and that would give him a chance to prove what he can do on a nightly basis.
Vonleh adds depth to the Pacers’ frontcourt. They have two young big men in Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis. Vonleh is still very young and is a restricted free agent this summer. The Pacers could bring him back on a bargain deal and hope he can break out and prove his lottery pick worth. The Pacers added so-called “bust” Sabonis this season, and he has found new life in Indiana. Maybe Vonleh could do the same.