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for their own 26 1st back.

So Chuck has to retire his trope about teams not trading for their own picks back....Here is another team doing it.

Confused why the Pels are doing this now. Do they need this pick for another move, or do they just like this draft overall?

Seems reasonable (and blows up a trade proposal I was literally just typing out in another tab)

Texas Chuck wrote:Confused why the Pels are doing this now. Do they need this pick for another move, or do they just like this draft overall?

Idk, but there are a lot of guys who make sense for them projected to go in that range. Would love to see them get Jakucionis at 7 and then a big SG who can hit from deep like Clifford, Riley, or McNeeley at 23.

Could be trying to move up. I like the 20s in the draft though and wanted another 1st. Win win either way to me.

Fair value.
I like it for both teams

Texas Chuck wrote:for their own 26 1st back.

So Chuck has to retire his trope about teams not trading for their own picks back....Here is another team doing it.

Yeah, that Chuck guy sure does muck up the board with his takes sometimes. At least he's not as bad as that Chinook fellow.

But I wouldn't say this is a sign of anything. The Pacers are very unlikely to be doing this to tank, which is what motivates a lot of the "get their picks back" discourse. Brooklyn remains pretty unique in that regard.

The question is if Indy did this because they want as many unprotected firsts as possible for an upcoming all-in trade, or if it was just the best deal they could get for a pick they didn't want to use.

is Mojave King just a throw in player? I couldn't find anything about him other than what's listed on his wikipedia page

Texas Chuck wrote:Confused why the Pels are doing this now. Do they need this pick for another move, or do they just like this draft overall?

They probably like that range I assume. If this was about making another move, I'm not sure pick 23 holds more value than the Pacers 26 first.

I like it for both teams. With the east being so weak next year, it's unlikely this pick is better than 23 in 2026 so makes sense to cash it in now as the pels. It also helps the pacers tax situation and unlocks all their future 1sts for them to trade

We have to be pretty sure that the Pacers pick next year will be worse than #23, and even barring a worse case scenario like a Hali injury, it was top 4 protected anyway. I think this years is more valuable for sure.

hsfolk wrote:is Mojave King just a throw in player? I couldn't find anything about him other than what's listed on his wikipedia page

He sounds like a made up player from NBA2K that you have to battle against in mycareer.

Was Ind 1st 26 protected? If not, the Pels FO made a strange move

esvl wrote:Was Ind 1st 26 protected? If not, the Pels FO made a strange move

Top 4

nolaPELSfan wrote:Could be trying to move up. I like the 20s in the draft though and wanted another 1st. Win win either way to me.

More assets is aways helpful, but both Utah (#5) and Washington (#6) have multiple 1st round picks already. Not sure they would want to move down for more picks this year (vs. deferring a year for a higher-variance asset in the IND pick). I feel like they'd be better situated to trade up with the IND pick.

My guess is there's someone they like who they think will be around at #23 and they haven't gotten any traction on a trade-up.

I like it. I want us to take two of the following.

Kasparas Jakucionas
Khaman Maluach
Noa Essengue
Egor Denim
Ben Saraf
Maxine Raynaud

Surprising that it happened now, as opposed to closer or during the draft.

Have the Pacers winning this one on value. Worst case it's a slightly worse pick next year. Decent chance it's a similar pick. Some chance it's a much better pick. And I prefer the draft next season as of now, though obviously a college season can change it up dramatically.

Texas Chuck wrote:for their own 26 1st back.

So Chuck has to retire his trope about teams not trading for their own picks back....Here is another team doing it.

I like it for both. What I'm surprised at is a team making any kind of deal while they're playing in the finals. Just seems surreal.

I like this a lot for us. Gives us more breathing room under the Tax as will, as little as it provides it may be meaningful.