The Indiana Pacers are one of the most mediocre teams in the NBA. At least, that’s what the truth had been for the better part of the last decade.
This year, however, the Pacers have gone from a middle-of-the-pack team to one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. With that, some big changes should be in order.
Earlier this season it was reported that the Pacers will be looking to move some major assets at the trade deadline this year. This included Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Caris LeVert.
With injuries to both Sabonis and Turner, LeVert emerged as the most likely trade candidate. However, recent NBA rumors have revealed the asking price for LeVert… and it’s interesting.
NBA Rumors: Pacers want at least two first-round picks for Caris LeVert
According to longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein (subscription required), the Indiana Pacers are looking to at least two first-round picks in exchange for Caris LeVert.
As well as LeVert has played for the past few years, two first-round picks sounds like a high price. A lot of NBA Twitter was questioning the price after the news was reported.
The Pacers are ways out of the Eastern Conference play-in, and it’s looking like they are headed straight for the lottery this year. But for a team that might be looking to rebuild, that’s a high asking price for a player like LeVert.
LeVert has played well this year but has never been the most efficient player. He’s averaging 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three-point range.
If the Pacers decide to hold onto all of their assets through the trade deadline, they’d be wasting valuable time that could be used to flip players and kickstart a rebuild.
With how competitive the East is this year, and projects to be for the foreseeable future, resetting the franchise and entering a rebuild could be in the best interest of the Pacers.
However, with Rick Carlisle just recently hired and Indiana’s track record of being against tanking, that just might not be in the cards for them.
Will Caris LeVert be traded before the NBA trade deadline? Maybe. Will be net two first-round picks? Probably not. But who knows? Maybe a team will come out of the woodwork.