NBA Trades: 1 potential last-minute deal to shake up all 30 NBA teams

NBA Trades: Indiana Pacers

For a team that many have written off as being a fluky Eastern Conference Finalist, the Indiana Pacers are surprisingly deep and even cheap. Their offense blew the doors off plenty of teams, but their defense is in need of some help. 

Last season, they ranked 2nd in offensive rating and rode that to the NBA Cup Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals, but also had the 22nd ranked defense. The Pacers play incredibly fast so it's not surprising that they give up a lot of points. Nevertheless, they could look to shore up their defense in hopes of improving incrementally, thus raising their ceiling.

One way would be for them to trade recently re-signed Obi Toppin and a 2028 top 10 protected first to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith. Finney-Smith is known for his defense and is a capable 3-point shooter. Better yet, he is under contract at an affordable price for the next two seasons, giving the Pacers time with him to see if he gels.

If he doesn't, then they wouldn't have made a huge mistake, and if they find themselves out of the playoffs in 2028, then they may not have to give up that first. However, if he is impactful, then he could help the Pacers and they should still be good in four years, increasing the chance that the Nets get a pick in the late teens or early 20s, possibly benefiting both teams.