Assessing each team as Dec. 15th expands trade scenarios

Indiana Pacers

Player now eligible: Torrey Craig

The front office leaked their desire to start a rebuild and specifically cited Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Caris LeVert as players they were open to moving.

That created a groundswell of teams desperate to add big men. The issue is most teams would prefer Turner given the ease of fitting him into various schemes and his ability to both rim-protect and stretch the court with his ability to hit the 3-point shot. Yet, as Rick Carlisle showed with Kristaps Porzingis in Dallas, he also would prefer that type of player so my guess is he’d rather move Sabonis.

By outing their plans it ended up seemingly ticking off Turner who implied he also wants a trade to land on a team who’ll view him as more than a “support” piece in a system.

Odds are the asking price is high and plenty of teams are interested but Turner landing in Charlotte or Toronto would make sense strictly from what he would add as well as how it could unleash more from him offensively.

Not that they would do it, but if the Heat could figure out a path to get Turner it also makes sense given their recent injury woes. The problem again is he’d fall into a “support” role especially once Adebayo is back.

And the one trade many want to see is Turner to Golden State which would make them even scarier. The Dubs have the young assets to dangle if they are willing to part with James Wiseman before they figure out what they have in him. Ditto for Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody.

Personally, I’d love to see Sam Presti entertain grabbing Turner who is 25 so in the range of the rebuild and fits the defensive prototype of the OKC Thunder. With Turner wanting a bigger role and Mark Daigneault employing a system that allows every player an opportunity to succeed OKC could be a perfect fit for the floor-spacing, rim-protecting big.

Doubtful Presti considers targeting him — but a lady can dream.