3 NBA players who need to be traded to save their careers

2 of 4

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 10: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers warms up against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on November 10, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

NBA players who need to be traded to save their careers: 3. Domantas Sabonis

Unfortunately for Domantas Sabonis, he finds himself in the worst situation possible with the Indiana Pacers right now. With other NBA players like Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren, and promising rookie Chris Duarte on the roster, the Pacers are, in theory, in a position to compete for a playoff spot.

However, the Pacers are also stuck in the unenviable position of being too good to be truly bad, but not good enough to be properly relevant. At 8-11, the season has gone even worse than the organization would have hoped for, but in Sabonis, they have a two-time All-Star who at 25 hasn’t even hit his prime yet.

Teams don’t just give up NBA players like that easily. Even if the Pacers do decide to blow it up and return to the bottom of the standings by choice, they’d still be wise to keep Sabonis and build around him.

Both Brogdon and Turner would have trade value, meaning that plenty of youngsters could then be put next to Sabonis as he continues to ascend.

Is that really what you want to see happen to him though? His situation echoes that of Nikola Vucevic, who spent most of his prime with an underperforming Orlando Magic roster that made the postseason a couple of times, and that’s it. Vucevic is now only getting the credit he has always deserved, and that’s as a fourth option who sees a lot less of the ball with the Bulls.

Vucevic was also a two-time All-Star when with the Magic, and he put up big numbers and was paid accordingly. But Sabonis has such a silky offensive game that seeing him go deeper in the postseason would be great.

His numbers are actually down in many categories this season, but don’t be fooled. He would thrive next to a legitimate superstar, and we’d love to see it.