OKC Thunder trade deadline primer: Pacers bevy of expiring contracts features desirable target
How the Pacers assets would fit OKC Thunder:
Due to the loss of Dipo and the numerous players on expiring deals the Pacers are in a bad spot. Sure they’ve excelled defensively but ask yourself who would automatically get the nod as the ‘go to’ guy with the loss of Dipo.
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Having a hard time coming up with an answer? See, that’s the problem this club is teeming with role and support players who most franchises wish they could get their guys to emulate. The problem is they lack the A team talent & now that Dipo is down the situation is only more pronounced.
Looking at the two proposed assets I mention consider the fact Joseph is making $7.9 million to Schroder’s $15.5 million. Granted, Joseph doesn’t score at the same rate as Schroder but he delivers everything else at similar rates for almost half the price. It’s unlikely Presti will move off Schroder, but it’s something to mull over for the longer term.
As for Bogdanovic, he is a player the OKC Thunder could definitely benefit from. The issue with Bojan is he likes Indiana and the feeling appears mutual.
"(The Pacers want to re-sign Bojan Bogdanovic, also working on an expiring contract, sources say.)"
The above quote courtesy of Zach Lowe via his ESPN trade preview.
Sam Presti could land Bogdanovic just by offering the tax trade exemption he obtained in the Carmelo Anthony trade. But, is that something the Pacers would jump at? I think he has to at least offer it and see what Buchanan says.
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Much will depend on what activity occurs for the Pacers today. Don’t sleep on Presti though – if there’s a way for him to add an asset who can shoot like Bogdanovic he’ll reach in that magician’s hat and pull out two rabbits.
Likelihood Grade: 4 out of 10 (but I’ll keep my fingers crossed)