The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks just had a great matchup this past week. Indiana suffered a tough defeat, losing 110-107. Could we see the two teams match up again, not on the court, but the trade market? It will be something to monitor as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
Indiana has been mired in mediocrity since they took part in the James Harden blockbuster trade, which saw Victor Oladipo sent to the Houston Rockets. The key piece in the deal for Indiana, Caris LeVert, has yet to play because of a small mass on his kidney.
When you take away an offensive piece as big as Oladipo was and replace him with nothing, it is no surprise the team is struggling. In addition to LeVert, the team is also without T.J. Warren. Indiana could use some scoring punch, and the trade market could provide that.
In this suggested trade with the Knicks, the Pacers land guard Austin Rivers in exchange for second-round picks in 2022 and 2025, both via the Miami Heat. This is a deal that would work for both teams.
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For Indiana, they add another shot creator to help offset the loss of Oladipo. He has shown he is capable of big offensive explosions; ask the Utah Jazz. Rivers is a capable playmaker and works hard defensively as well. The playoff experience he has is a bonus.
For the Knicks, getting anything in the way of future assets for Rivers should be considered a win. He is not in the short or long-term plans of the Knicks, as he has been surpassed by Derrick Rose and even now Frank Ntilikina in the rotation.
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While he is out of the rotation, the Knicks can leverage this into future assets because of the contract that Rivers is one. Rivers has two, non-guaranteed years left on his deal worth $5.6 million. Finding a player who has experience as a playoff rotation piece, at that price, would prove to be extremely difficult.
There will undoubtedly be suitors for Austin Rivers as well. For all the reasons the Pacers should like him, other playoff teams starved for some offense will look into his availability as well. That is why a second future pick would have to be included in the deal.
