Austin Rivers

When the NBA trade deadline approached, there were rumors that the Indiana Pacers were interested in adding Austin Rivers from the New York Knicks. Rivers was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder instead and eventually bought out.

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Rivers ended up signing with the Denver Nuggets and has had some big moments in this year’s postseason. He has made an impact with his scoring off the bench and been tasked with defending Damian Lillard as well. That is exactly the kind of help the Pacers’ second unit could use.

Austin Rivers has plenty of playoff experience and is a versatile guard. He can play on or off the ball and be a go-to scorer for spurts. Indiana’s reserves would get a much-needed boost with someone such as Rivers, who will be a free agent again this summer and shouldn’t break the bank.

Keep in mind, Austin Rivers signed a three-year deal with the Knicks in the 2020 offseason, the last two years of which were non-guaranteed. There can be flexibility for the Pacers on his next deal.