Entering the 2020-21 NBA season for the Indiana Pacers, there were a lot of concerns about this team’s durability because of how many injuries they have dealt with over the years. Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon all missed time last year due to different injuries and so far this year, the ‘injury bug’ has not disappeared. 

T.J. Warren has only played in 4 games this season due to a foot injury that required surgery and Myles Turner suffered an avulsion fracture in his hand the other night and is listed as day-to-day. Not to mention, Jeremy Lamb is still out as he recovers from a torn ACL and newly acquired Caris LeVert is now out after his medical examination discovered a small mass on his left kidney. 

Of course, we all wish LeVert the best and hopefully he will be back out on the court in no-time, but after entering the year with high hopes, the Pacers will have to fight through adversity to reach their full potential. So far this year, they have done an excellent job in battling through injuries and both Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis look like All-Star caliber players.

Brogdon currently leads the team in scoring with 22.2 points per game and Domantas Sabonis is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, averaging about 12.8 boards per game. With both of these guys playing at a high-level, the Pacers are currently one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference and right in the thick of things with the Bucks, Nets and 76ers at the top of the conference. 

Moving forward though, the Pacers are definitely a team to keep an eye on as the NBA trade deadline approaches. With LeVert out indefinitely and T.J. Warren’s return up-in-the-air, the Pacers will need to bring in some talent if they are truly going to be a threat in the Eastern Conference come playoff time. 

With that being said, let’s take a look at three potential trade targets the Indiana Pacers should consider to stay relevant and as a contender in the Eastern Conference.