Reviewing Bleacher Report's Indiana Pacers trade idea involving Toronto Raptors

The Pacers have to be smart with their young assets

In the NBA offseason, anything can happen at any time. While August is usually among the slowest time for transactions between the draft and the start of the season, there are some moves that will take place during the month.

Last year in late August, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Stanley Johnson and Talen Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz for Patrick Beverley, for example. So far this year, Jermaine Samuels has signed a two-way deal with Houston and the Brooklyn Nets signed Trendon Watford. August isn't as busy as other months, but moves still happen.

The Indiana Pacers haven't made a move since signing Kendall Brown to a two-way contract on July 25, and they could be quiet for a few weeks until filling out their training camp roster. Last year, they only made one move between July 22 and September 15 — they added Deividas Sirvydis via an Exhibit 10 deal on August 18.

Making any trade soon seems exceedingly unlikely. However, just over one week ago, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes constructed five trades that he believes could still happen during the offseason, and the Pacers were involved in one such deal.

The proposed trade involves a name that Indiana has been connected to before in O.G. Anunoby. But it may not be a swap that makes sense for the blue and gold. Let's review the deal.

Indiana Pacers receive: Forward O.G. Anunoby

Toronto Raptors receive: Guard Bennedict Mathurin, guard T.J. McConnell, a top-10 protected 2024 first-round draft pick, and swap rights between the two teams in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Anunoby is a terrific player and would immediately improve just about any team. He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season, he's a 38.4% three-point shooter across the last four seasons, and his finishing and rebounding round out his game. He is as good as it gets for players with the three-and-D wing archetype.

The Pacers need wings of that mold. Bruce Brown and Aaron Nesmith will give the team good minutes on the wing, but neither player has the two-way impact Anunoby has, and the Raptors forward can credibly play three positions. He would be a great fit alongside Tyrese Haliburton and the rest of Indiana's roster.

This trade, however, is not one that makes sense for the blue and gold. The price is just too high.

Anunoby should have a high trade price. He would enhance any team's wing rotation and has proven that he can contribute in a postseason setting. There is not a single team that wouldn't be better without his talents on both sides of the court, and the Raptors should demand the best package of assets they can get in return.

Mathurin, who was just named to the All-Rookie First Team, as well as draft equity is too much to send away. And it all comes down to contracts — Anunoby has a player option in his deal for the 2024-25 season. That means he could be an unrestricted free agent in less than 11 months, which lowers his trade value.

If Indiana trades for Anunoby, they have to either think of him as a rental or as a player who will become much more expensive next summer. His salary could nearly double in 2024, and while he will still be an effective player going forward, that limits his value.

The Pacers have extra draft picks going forward and other young players with less value than Mathurin. There is, potentially, a trade to be made if both teams can negotiate in good faith. But Mathurin is too much for the Pacers to give up unless there are more pieces involved on Toronto's end. This deal seems unlikely as currently constructed.

To read Hughes' four other trade proposals, follow this link.

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• Obi Toppin knows he has a lot to learn but expects to be a good fit with the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
• What moves can the Indiana Pacers still make during the 2023 offseason and free agency? CLICK HERE.
• Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin are forming an early bond for the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
• Report: T.J. McConnell is hoping to stay with the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
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