3 Indiana Pacers trades based on recent NBA rumors

Indiana Pacers trades based on recent NBA rumors: Caris LeVert to the Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota receives: Caris LeVert, Justin Holiday

Indiana receives: Taurean Prince, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 First-Round pick

Minnesota’s surge has them thinking they can be contenders not just for a play-in spot, but also for a four-seed in the West. To get there, however, they need an infusion of talent in the second unit, which has struggled to maintain the starters’ blistering pace.

Caris LeVert is perfectly suited to be the classic combo guard scorer off the bench. He showed his ceiling in the bubble for Brooklyn when he averaged 23.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Though he’s struggled with injuries and efficiency since then, he still leads the Pacers in on/off point differential by a mile despite unimpressive traditional box-score stats.

The Wolves’ starting five is one of the best lineups in the league, but when Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell hit the bench, they don’t have anybody to replace that off-the-bounce juice. LeVert could run the second unit as a point guard or play next to either starter as a combo guard.

Holiday is an underrated 3&D guard who gives the Wolves another wing to bring off the bench. He knows his role and rarely does anything he shouldn’t. Holiday’s skillset would bolster any bench in the league.

For the Pacers, the return is all about the draft pick. There’s no guarantee Minnesota finishes in a playoff spot, and recouping a first-round pick for LeVert could be a coup if he can’t stay healthy.

Prince makes the salary math work. The rookie Bolmaro is a big, flashy guard who hasn’t done too much in limited minutes for Minnesota, but at this point, Indiana should be stockpiling as many young players as they can.