NBA Trades: 3 Indiana Pacers trades to kickstart a much-needed rebuild

NBA trades to help the Indiana Pacers begin a rebuild: Domantas Sabonis trade to the Washington Wizards

Pacers receive: Rui Hachimura, Corey Kispert, Thomas Bryant, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick

Wizards receive: Domantas Sabonis

The Washington Wizards have been great so far this season, but have been largely carried by their defense. Adding an All-Star like Domantas Sabonis would give them more offensive firepower.

As Bradley Beal’s offseason decision looms large, adding an All-Star next to him makes perfect sense. If the team wants to keep him around, they should put as much talent around him as possible, right?

Sabonis would give them an elite power forward who could help them in the scoring column and also act as a playmaker for the Wizards. He’d just give them a little bit of everything at a very high level.

Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers would be getting three solid young pieces to build with. However, since two are injured right now, the Wizards may not be too hesitant to part ways with them.

Rui Hachimura is the only question mark in that regard because he played a huge role for Washington last year. However, with Deni Avdija’s play this season, flipping Hachimura for Sabonis might be easier to do.

The Japanese power forward dominated at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, and he could easily be a core building block for Indiana. He has the potential to be something special.

Meanwhile, Indiana would also add a young center in Thomas Bryant, who showed a ton of promise in The Bubble, as well as rookie Corey Kispert, who is a do-it-all wing that could get more playing time in a new situation.

Add in two unprotected first-round picks, and this is a nice little haul for the Pacers. Trading away Sabonis would be the first piece of the puzzle for a long-overdue rebuild.