Indiana Pacers: Why they got better from the James Harden trade

The Indiana Pacers snuck into the James Harden trade at the final hour. Even though they gave up an All-Star in the trade they may have just gotten better.

The Victor Oladipo era has come to an end for the Indiana Pacers. Fans will have to look back fondly at the All-Star who carried them through the dark days after the Paul George trade demand was supposed to end their competitive efforts. Oladipo blossomed with the Pacers and was finally back to playing like himself this season.

So why did the Pacers trade him? The expiring contract felt like a ticking time bomb that could leave the franchise with nothing should they have stood pat until this summer. Oladipo has dropped hints that he would like to look elsewhere in the future so getting something for him was essential.

Caris LeVert is a home run acquisition for the Indiana Pacers. He is a young star in the making and is under contract for two seasons beyond this one. While Oladipo’s numbers were better thus far this season that can be attributed to one being a starter and the other being a reserve on a team with two of the most ball-dominant players in basketball in front of him. Adjusting their number to per 100 possession tells a much better story:

Oladipo: 28.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and shooting splits of .421/.362/.730

LeVert: 30.9 points, 10.0 assists, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and shooting splits of .435/.349/.765

Simply put, Oladipo is the better defensive player but LeVert has the potential to be a more dynamic offensive threat. He is a creative passer and will thrive in the more open offense that Indiana is showcasing following the hiring of new coach Nate Bjorkgren.

LeVert showcased his skills in the seeding games last season as the primary option and his excellence made him skyrocket up the list of best trade chips to net the Brooklyn Nets a star player. He looked like the kind of player who could make multiple All-Star games.

He will be surrounded by a number of players who are constantly looking for the open man and the best shot for their team to succeed. Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis will have to love looking for him in the passing lanes.

Importantly, he will also lighten the load for the aforementioned Pacers stars. They currently rank second (Sabonis) and sixth (Brogdon) in minutes. With Oladipo sitting out the second night of back to backs in a season full of them that was unlikely to change anytime soon. Now there will be another offensive workhorse on the team who should be available every night.

The Indiana Pacers are better for the availability that LeVert brings to the lineup and are better in the future because they have more certainty. The Eastern Conference got a real boost today. For good reason most fans are crowing over the Brooklyn Nets becoming a “Big Three” but they are not the only newly minted title contender. The Pacers were already within a half-game of the best record in the conference and now they got better. If you keep sleeping on them you will pay.