Scoot McGroot wrote:GermanFan120 wrote:A question to all the Pacers fan here: What kinda upgrade does the team need to address to truly become a contender over other good teams such as: OKC / Bos / NY / LAL / GSW / Cavs ?
Looking at the current roster, I cannot find anyone on the team prominent enough to be dealt or cut for upgrade.
Best I can see is a true consolidation type trade that upgrades the 3 with a true two way type player? Who that is, I don’t know, though. Basically. If you could somehow combine Mathurin and Nesmith and put it into Jarace’s body, you’d be perfect?

I was having a hard time answering this question?....
I think an increase in the talent ceiling? Pacers have to play to or very close to their ceiling to beat some of the top teams. They've done it, but is that enough when they face another team playing close to their top talent level? (tbf this could come with growth and maturation of Walker's game, or Mathurin's game being remade to better fit the style of the team? Though, I still think we need a bigger wing as well.)
Thanks to the other answers! IMO, that increase in overall talent level needs to be an elite, all nba caliber wing defender. A guy who is still part of the offense,.. a threat to shoot, so they have to be covered, but who's real calling is defending the other teams best wing player. A guy you can put on Giannis, Tatum, or Brown & know that the other teams player is not going to be in position to win the game, or really reduces their contribution to winning the game? (Like a pre-injury, prime Jonathan Isaac, or a Cooper Flagg, to a slightly lesser degree Jones in NO, or Williams in CHI, or OG?) Probably at the SF, but able to guard up & down the line 2-4 for the Pacers?