Boston Celtics: 3-team mega-deal to land Ben Simmons and Myles Turner

Why the Indiana Pacers do it

While they still have Victor Oladipo under contract through the 2020-21 season, it has been the worst kept secret that since the star shooting guard and the Indiana Pacers couldn’t come to terms on a contract extension, the two have grown farther and farther apart as the days go on which, in turn, has forced General Manager Chad Buchanan into strongly considering dealing the veteran baller.

While the idea of being at an impasse with a star player typically leads to a complete downfall for a franchise, with the fact that they also have 2020 All-Star big Domantas Sabonis under contract through the 2023-24 season, it makes the prospect of swapping an estranged talent for pieces to help better build around their 24-year-old forward that much more enticing and, in some instances, favorable.

Not only have we seen the trade-rumor mil circulating around Oladipo, however, but also Pacers center Myles Turner who, as stated in the last slide, has been linked to the Boston Celtics already on several occasions.

Should both aforementioned talents truly be seen as expendable already by the franchise, a return package consisting of Gordon Hayward, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Romeo Langford, Al Horford, 2020’s No. 14 pick (via MEM), and the C’s 2021 first-round selection would be a solid haul, both helping the team in both the present and well as for the future.

Slotting the skillset of the Indiana native in Hayward — who averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent shooting from deep in 2019-20 — into the starting lineup would instantly give Sabonis a great second option on offense to help better the team’s distribution and floor spacing.

Milton works for both the present and the future, as the 23-year-old proved to be a solid option at both the one and two guard in 2019-20 — posted 16.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds per 36 minutes on 48 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent shooting from deep — and could be a great backcourt addition alongside current starting guard Malcolm Brogdon.

Horford, while on an albatross contract, is still a decent starter and could serve as a replacement for turner at the pivot while also serving as a veteran leader, similar to as he did during his time with the shamrocks.

The additions of Thybulle and Langford allows the franchise to bring aboard young former first-round talents who have shown promise during their first seasons in the league but likely just need time to develop, while the No. 14 pick gives Indiana an in into this year’s first-round and an added pick in 2021. In other words, this portion of the deal could seriously help in benefiting their future.