Siakam for Zion

[babyjax13]

IND trades: Pascal Siakam
NOP trades: Zion Williamson, filler

Indiana gets a young, extremely flawed superstar. They have an out if he can't get healthy with the ung. contract. New Orleans flips Zion for a very nice player who might be easier to move for value than Zion.

Good chance a third team is needed here, but thought the framework might be fun.

[Godaddycurse]

As a raptors fan, i would like this alot because it increases the chance of Indy conveying a lotto pick next year lol. Seriously though they have enough injury concerns and offense from their main players already, the last thing they need is Zion imo

[youngcrev]

It's an interesting risk for the Pacers.

If he could get healthy, he'd slot in damn near perfectly with that team. Him and Haliburton seem like they'd fit like a glove as a tandem, and everyone has always had Turner as an ideal center target to pair with Zion.

They're also in a spot right now where they are a bit tapped out on adding to what they have and just don't seem good enough, although this is been an odd start to the season for most teams.

If it's me, I'd pull the trigger for them, knowing full well that it could get me fired... But what they're risking in this proposition doesn't feel overwhelming enough to put weigh the reward.

For the Pelicans... Yeah, I think you need a 3rd team, while they continue to sell off other pieces while they're at it. They'd have a hodge podge of good but not great players that are highly paid, putting them in that rough capped out and mediocre spot that nobody wants to be in.

[Scoot McGroot]

The biggest issue for Indy is defense. The second issue is health. Swapping Siakam for Zion only compounds those issues, no?

If Indy didn’t have Siakam and just had Bruce Brown like expirings, then yeah, acquiring Zion would make a ton of sense. But right now, with Siakam? Less so.

[Billl]

I don't think indy should do this, but it is interesting. The roster reads like a check list of what you would need around zion in terms of shot blocking and floor spacing. Of course, none of that matters if zion is going to continue trying to eat his way out of the league.

[babyjax13]

The biggest issue for Indy is defense. The second issue is health. Swapping Siakam for Zion only compounds those issues, no?

If Indy didn’t have Siakam and just had Bruce Brown like expirings, then yeah, acquiring Zion would make a ton of sense. But right now, with Siakam? Less so.

I feel like they have the assets to solve this, though. They have plenty of young players with tradable contracts and could probably find good defenders at the 2 & 3 to help balance things out, and they would have excellent depth at power forward depending on who they keep. I don't have exact proposals, but I'm sure some sensible trades could be organized around Mathurin and one of McConnell/Nembhard. I know that these guys are likable, good, and have roles, but they are also the kind of assets that can help balance a roster. e.g., could Indiana get Jaden McDaniels and Nickel Alexander-Walker for Matherin + McConnell + Toppin + maybe a protected first [not sure the value delta here]? That would be two excellent perimeter defenders that fit well in their lineup:

Haliburton/NAW/McDaniels/Zion/Turner
Nembhard/Sheppard/Nesmith/Walker/???

Depending on what they do at center, that seems like a team that is balanced really well between offense and defense.

[Scoot McGroot]

The biggest issue for Indy is defense. The second issue is health. Swapping Siakam for Zion only compounds those issues, no?

If Indy didn’t have Siakam and just had Bruce Brown like expirings, then yeah, acquiring Zion would make a ton of sense. But right now, with Siakam? Less so.

I feel like they have the assets to solve this, though. They have plenty of young players with tradable contracts and could probably find good defenders at the 2 & 3 to help balance things out, and they would have excellent depth at power forward depending on who they keep.

This would be Nembhard and Nesmith, both of whom have been missing time for injuries, and a huge reason Indy has been floundering a bit this season.

I don't have exact proposals, but I'm sure some sensible trades could be organized around Mathurin and one of McConnell/Nembhard. I know that these guys are likable, good, and have roles, but they are also the kind of assets that can help balance a roster. e.g., could Indiana get Jaden McDaniels and Nickel Alexander-Walker for Matherin + McConnell + Toppin + maybe a protected first [not sure the value delta here]? That would be two excellent perimeter defenders that fit well in their lineup:

Haliburton/NAW/McDaniels/Zion/Turner
Nembhard/Sheppard/Nesmith/Walker/???

Depending on what they do at center, that seems like a team that is balanced really well between offense and defense.

McConnell can't be traded this season due to his extension. Otherwise, why would Indy deal their defenders in a hunt to try and add defense? Nembhard would likely be kept for that reason. Also, he's probably not super valuable while he's still battling injury recovery. And with Haliburton battling his nerve issue in his back, that's a lineup that faces continued issues of stagnant offense.

But, look at that lineup. Now take out Zion for 30 games. There's a pretty massive problem, no? And with Zion added in, it again simply exacerbates a defensive issue that still needs to be fixed with health and even MORE depth, even if completing the types of trades you suggest to add defense.

I love Zion the player on the court. I don't think Indy can take any of the other risks on Zion, though.

[brackdan70]

I don’t like this at all from Indy.

[Mamba4Goat]

A lot of this may depend on how much faith Indy has in Walker working out. If they believe he’s good enough to play as a full time starter for 50% of the season, it becomes a lot easier to take the risk.

[Wizop]

Ingram is probably a better target for the Pacers if they can move enough salary in the deal to create room for a Turner contract next summer.

[oldncreaky]

This is either not nearly enough for Zion, or way too much. If Zion is actually playing, he is a legit #1 option; if he isn't, he looks a lot like a bad contract that will kill any chances to compete, let alone contend.

If I'm Indy, I pass