RealGM

So I saw Boston is fielding offers for Derrick White.

Indiana in: Derrick White
Boston in: Mathurin, Toppin, and Shepard + picks.
I am never good at picks so I will let you guys fight that out.

Indiana starting lineup:

Nembhard
White
Nesmith
Siakim
Turner

McConnell
Walker
Murphy?
Jackson?

Indiana makes a low key championship move while consolidating some depth. They will go into the tax for 26/27 after they resign Turner with Hali sidelined. They will need to sign some min vet players as well but still staying under the first apron.

For Boston they get a young promising young player in Mathurin with upside. Toppin helps their front court immediately and Shep is a good rotation piece with playoff experience. This saves Boston 2.1M and also works without Shep for more savings if they want. 4.9M


Thoughts?

.

Indiana sends an essentially neutral value salary for Derrick White + Picks. That means we are paying Desmond Bane's price of 4 1sts.

Is that what we should be going "all-in" on?

I like White as a player but this makes no sense for the Pacers. They need to cut some salary for Turners contract and maybe to get a bigger SF.

I don’t think they are fielding offers, but rather teams are calling. You are going to have to bring it to pry White away.
Now that is a decent package of players that might interest the Celtics. I guess what picks and how many would make the difference. If 2026 and another future first is included unprotected then it’s a decent offer. Also it really depends on if the Cs are looking for players or lotto potential picks in a return. I really don’t think he would be moved but IDK.

Eh, I don't see it for IND. They already have Nembhard/McConnell on good deals. Once Hali comes back, along with White that's just extreme over allocation to the backcourt.

This is probably a really good trade to keep them more afloat with Hali out, but they shouldn't pour resources like this into salvaging their year without him. Make a stop gap move? Sure. But push major chips in like a White trade would be? Save that for a move that works in a post-Hali return team as opposed to the year without him because that's their real window.

White has a great amount of value, which Indy shouldn’t be paying.

White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

I'm excited to see what Mathurin can do playing 30+ mpg. Not opposed to trading anyone but consolidating depth and picks for another combo guard is not my preference.

Helsbyte wrote:White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

4 years

Helsbyte wrote:White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

And swapping out Nembhard to the bench, right? Or White to the bench? Neither seems well suited for the 3 for major minutes.

brackdan70 wrote:

Helsbyte wrote:White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

4 years

Even better

Helsbyte wrote:

brackdan70 wrote:

Helsbyte wrote:White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

4 years

Even better

last year is PO

Scoot McGroot wrote:

Helsbyte wrote:White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

And swapping out Nembhard to the bench, right? Or White to the bench? Neither seems well suited for the 3 for major minutes.

Or a reduced role for T.J McConnell who will turn 35 that season. As much as I love me some T.J. he isn't getting any younger.

Nembhard/Toppin for White?

BOS gets a lesser but still good (and younger) version of White for less money to accommodate a good bench big. Pacers get an upgrade in the starting lineup on a reasonable long term deal to add some more perimeter scoring juice outside of Hali.

Probably doesn't make sense now that Hali is out since deal commits IND to going into the tax this year instead of waiting until next and they don't really get the upside of the improvement for this year with Hali out. Also not sure BOS wants to downgrade from White to Nembhard unless they got a lot of picks that IND wouldn't want to include for a luxury more than a need.

Boneman2 wrote:I'm excited to see what Mathurin can do playing 30+ mpg. Not opposed to trading anyone but consolidating depth and picks for another combo guard is not my preference.

I think Mathurin would thrive in another offensive system. He will get more usage now with Haliburton out. But when Hali returns he goes back to 6th or 7th man again.

hugepatsfan wrote:Nembhard/Toppin for White?

BOS gets a lesser but still good (and younger) version of White for less money to accommodate a good bench big. Pacers get an upgrade in the starting lineup on a reasonable long term deal to add some more perimeter scoring juice outside of Hali.

Probably doesn't make sense now that Hali is out since deal commits IND to going into the tax this year instead of waiting until next and they don't really get the upside of the improvement for this year with Hali out. Also not sure BOS wants to downgrade from White to Nembhard unless they got a lot of picks that IND wouldn't want to include for a luxury more than a need.

I would rather keep Nembhard which has shown to be a good fit next to Haliburton and move Mathurin instead, whose fit has seemed clunky. Reminds me of Turbonis sort of. Keep trying to push the square through that round hole. We know we can make it fit.......lol

Helsbyte wrote:

hugepatsfan wrote:Nembhard/Toppin for White?

BOS gets a lesser but still good (and younger) version of White for less money to accommodate a good bench big. Pacers get an upgrade in the starting lineup on a reasonable long term deal to add some more perimeter scoring juice outside of Hali.

Probably doesn't make sense now that Hali is out since deal commits IND to going into the tax this year instead of waiting until next and they don't really get the upside of the improvement for this year with Hali out. Also not sure BOS wants to downgrade from White to Nembhard unless they got a lot of picks that IND wouldn't want to include for a luxury more than a need.

I would rather keep Nembhard which has shown to be a good fit next to Haliburton and move Mathurin instead, whose fit has seemed clunky. Reminds me of Turbonis sort of. Keep trying to push the square through that round hole. We know we can make it fit.......lol

That makes sense that you'd rather keep Nembhard and move Mathurin. But then, I just don't think a combo guard like White makes sense. I think you'd want more of a wing player for this package than a combo guard. Though you did mention possibly phasing TJ out. You could do a 3 guard rotation of Hali/White/Nembhard taking all 96 minutes at guard and some limited 3-guard looks, but it just doesn't feel like the best allocation IMO.

If Pacers do make a move, I doubt they deal with Eastern Conference teams.

Helsbyte wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:

Helsbyte wrote:White is under contract for 3 more years, so I am looking in the future once Haliburton returns. Please don't view this as a stop gap measure. Once Hali returns for the 26 season you are basically swapping out Mathurin and Shep for White. Like I said low key championship move which would also align with Siakim timeline.

And swapping out Nembhard to the bench, right? Or White to the bench? Neither seems well suited for the 3 for major minutes.

Or a reduced role for T.J McConnell who will turn 35 that season. As much as I love me some T.J. he isn't getting any younger.

Oh, McConnell would be completely benched in that regard. No way to play Haliburton, White, and Nembhard each 30 minutes a night and still play TJ.

Wizop wrote:If Pacers do make a move, I doubt they deal with Eastern Conference teams.

I think they'd prioritize the focus of their own team. They sent Brogdon to the Celtics. They acquired Bryant from Miami. They sent Buddy to the 76'ers. They acquired Siakam from Toronto. They acquired Obi from the Knicks. They worked with Washington to ensure the Wizards could draft their primary focus in Bilal Coulibaly. They helped Brooklyn and Milwaukee complete their 2023 trades...etc.

They've benefitted by acquiring players from the East. They've sent players to other teams in the East. So long as you're improving your own team for the long haul, ignore the rest? Can't realistically eliminate half the league off the bat.