The Indiana Pacers have been a team on the rise this season. Not only are they in the final for the inaugural In-Season Tournament, but they are fifth in the Eastern Conference. The combination of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner has been fun to watch. As per reports by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pacers are looking to add a big, athletic two-way wing. Portland’s Forward Jerami Grant might be the best trade option.
Grant would allow the Pacers some flexibility, he could play both forward spots. He can be a leader and provide some additional scoring for Indiana. This season, Grant is averaging 22.1 points per game, playing excellent basketball on both offense and defense. A trade for Jerami Grant would make sense for the Pacers and most likely wouldn’t cost them much.
With the Trail Blazers in a rebuild, they’ll certainly want picks and young talent.
Potential Trade Proposals
Jerami Grant to the Indiana Pacers for Buddy Hield, Obi Toppin, a 2024 First-Round Pick and a 2025 Second-Round Pick
The offseason investment in Obi Toppin has not been enough to fill the void at Power Forward. Grant would be able to fill that and put the Pacers in consideration of being a contender. He would likely not only slide into the second scorer role behind Haliburton, but Grant would also boost Indiana’s 28th-ranked defense with length, athleticism and versatility.
In return, Portland would be getting a first-round pick which is always valuable. As well as Toppin who would fit into the Blazers rebuild. Not only is he still young and have room to grow, but he’s lengthy, athletic and versatile just like Grant. Hield would be a rotation-worthy guard who would provide scoring. The Blazers could also use him as trade bait and ship him to a contender.
Pacers get Grant, Blazers get T.J. McConnell, Jarace Walker, Jordan Nwora, Ben Sheppard, 2024 first-round pick
Perhaps the Pacers want to keep the veteran rotational pieces in Toppin and Hield. The could offer the Blazers Walker and the rest of this group. It’s another deal that would send the Blazers young talent in return for a 30-year-old. This deal would also create a trade exception for Portland as the players they’re getting in return are far less than what Grant makes. As I had mentioned with Hield above, the Blazers could look to move McConnell to a contending team.
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