Trade targets: All 30 teams
Indiana Pacers
Record: 28-25
6th place in East
Status: Buyers/Sellers
Indiana's 18th-ranked offense has been inconsistent, with this season's increased emphasis on pace and space undermined by a dearth of high-level shooters. Still, the Pacers remain strong on defense, ranking third in the NBA in defensive efficiency.
With the league's eighth-ranked scoring margin, Indiana could rise above the quagmire in the East to challenge Cleveland. Team president Larry Bird has demonstrated in the past he's willing to shake it up and make bold moves to do so.
Potential trade targets
Eric Gordon
The Pacers' best bet to improve their shooting would be to add to the backcourt, and Indiana native Gordon would be just the ticket. The Pacers could package George Hill and Chase Budinger, as the former would help with New Orleans' lackluster backcourt defense and the latter would give the Pelicans a much-needed option at the 3.
Kevin Martin
Martin doesn't fit with a Timberwolves team well into a youth movement. His combination of shooting range and shot creation would be a boon to the Pacers, whose defensive backbone would paper over his shortcomings on that end.
Most trade value
1. Paul George
George has bounced back incredibly well from his broken leg, and his two-way versatility was the main reason Bird made the decision to change up Indiana's playing style.
2. Myles Turner
Turner has missed time with injury, so the Pacers haven't used him much. But he's still a recent lottery pick with potential to develop into a stretch-5.
3. George Hill
Hill has returned to his role as an always-solid, always-unspectacular point guard in deference to new backcourt mate Monta Ellis. As good as Hill is as a two-way player who is more of a combo guard than a pure point, if Bird wants to shake things up, moving Hill has to be on the table.
4. Ian Mahinmi
Mahinmi has been a revelation as a full-time center, but he's a free agent after the season. If there are doubts about the sustainability of Mahinmi's improved offense, now is the time to move him.
5. Lavoy Allen
If Allen were a little more proficient on the defensive glass, he could be a valuable player. He's solid defender, capable of a modicum of rim protection, and has a playable midrange shot on offense.
6. Jordan Hill
Hill has a small, expiring deal ($4 million), and while his defense and tweener skill set aren't ideal, he remains an elite rebounder on both ends of the floor. For a team looking for help on the boards down the stretch, he would be worth a look.
7. Monta Ellis
Ellis has played huge minutes for the Pacers, and while his attitude has been great and his defense (at least by real plus-minus) has fit in well with the Pacers' culture, he's a reason why the pace-and-space movement has yielded mixed results.
8. Chase Budinger
Budinger has had a disappointing season, is well into his prime and has an expiring contract.
Roster crunch
The Pacers' payroll is over the salary cap threshold, but not by much. They also still own the $2.8 room exception the CBA allows for teams that use cap space to sign players the previous season. The problem: Indiana is at the league roster limit with 15 players.
Most valuable draft pick
2017 first-rounder
The Pacers' draft pick stock is plain vanilla. Indiana owns all of its own picks and no one owes it anything. We'll call next year's pick more valuable than this year's, if only because it seems unlikely that the 2016 pick will get into the lottery.
Toughest contract to trade
Rodney Stuckey
Indiana's decision to re-up Stuckey last summer looks like a mistake. The problem is that he's being paid for his 2014-15 performance, which was inflated by a fluky 3-point percentage.
Player most likely to be traded
Solomon Hill
If there is one player Indiana might unload just to free up a roster spot, it's Hill. He started 78 games just last season, but the Pacers declined his fourth-year option earlier this season and he'll be an unrestricted free agent in July. He won't yield much in return.