The Indiana Pacers, led by All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton, are an emerging force in the Eastern Conference. As the Milwaukee Bucks start to decline, the Pacers are poised to take their spot as a regular fixture in the NBA playoffs, and with each passing offseason, they are expected to improve.
Indiana has often been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers as a possible trade partner, with Myles Turner being an attractive candidate. However, Turner is a key part of the Pacers' recent success, and there is strong reason to believe that he will re-sign with the Pacers in his impending free agency.
Instead, the Pacers could make a deal for a sweet-shooting rookie who might be on the outs with the Lakers.
After a trade that would have sent him to the Charlotte Hornets fell through, rookie Dalton Knecht has been solid for the Lakers, although it's painfully clear that the relationship between team and player is strained.
Since returning to the lineup after the failed trade, Knecht has been averaging 9.9 points on 37.8 percent shooting from a 3-point range. Adding an elite sharpshooter to the Pacers' lineup would only bring out the best in both Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard, and Indiana could feasibly pull off a trade by parting ways with an awkward fit.
"In exchange for [Bennedict Mathurin], Pelinka would hypothetically be able to offer a package consisting of the Lakers' No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Dalton Knecht and forward Jarred Vanderbilt to supply the Pacers with a promising prospect and skilled perimeter defender in return," suggested *The Sporting News'*Dean Simon.
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Mathurin spent most of the season as a staple of the starting lineup but has since fallen out of favor. If the Lakers and Pacers could even just swap their two promising players, the benefits for both teams are plainly obvious. The Lakers add a slashing threat to play off-ball alongside their trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
Meanwhile, the Pacers add an elite shooter who could only continue to improve, setting them up for long-term success with Haliburton leading the way.
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This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM.