What is the future like for the Indiana Pacers at center? What players should they be targeting?

What is the future like for the Indiana Pacers at center? What players should they be targeting?

What does the future of the center position actually look like for the Pacers? They want to go by committee this year. Is that the answer long term? What does history say? What do the current players suggest? And who could actually be available as a target for the Pacers? We’ll break it all down today on the Locked On Pacers podcast. You are Locked on Pacers, your daily Indiana Pacers podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. What’s up everybody? Happy Wednesday and welcome in to another edition of the Locked On Pacers podcast where we of course talk about the Indiana Pacers. As always, my name’s Tony East. I cover the team for Forbes and today I want to dive into the center position for the Pacers. I would say the least amount of certainty at a position on the roster. Maybe you could say two, but at least the players there are young and are trending in a direction that like that makes sense for the Pacers to want to know what’s going on and they could in theory have a starter level player there. And they certainly could have injured Mhard be their starting two. At the five, they lose Miles Turner. They’ve described going through this by committee approach. Do they have a starting level player right now? Do they have a plan to get one in the future? How could they? How should they? What will that actually look like? And why do I suspect personally that a trade for a center will maybe be not quite required but approaching that level at some point in the next season and a half and what kind of player should they be looking for in such a trade let’s start with the current thing going on at the five right and that is this Jackson Huff Wiseman Bradley quartet the spy committee approach obviously Jackson Huff project to be the heaviest minute guys at the spot But there’s more depth and nuance to it than just that. And they need to figure out if those guys can be any sort of long-term solution. What if they’re not? And salarywise, what if they’re not? Like good starters in the NBA typically make or cost, not always, right? If you time the market right, signing a player, if you have a g rookie deal, whatever, they can be cheaper than this. But good starters cost 20 million plus. Like very much so more than that in a lot of cases now. 25 million more plus, right? The Pacers have a couple underpaid guys in their team and so the Pacers like just straight up can’t get it’s it’s hard for them to get an expensive player. And that’s not to say that expensive is good or bad on its own, but a what you think of as a starting level player is hard for them to get. They won’t have more than the mid-level exception as an option in trade or excuse me in free agency for a while. They won’t have cap space for a while. Um, and so it’s going to be challenging to get someone of that price point, of that level onto their team. So, how is this going to work, etc. They could draft somebody. Maybe the committee style works, but did it before, right? Carile has talked about and the Pacers have talked about Rick specifically doing this, the committee approach in his past, right? And there’s some like up for interpretation of what specific seasons that actually was happening for Dallas, but I think the most obvious time was the kind of not floating through nature because they had good players. It’s kind of similar to the pitch step now, but the time between when they had Tyson Chandler before they traded for Chris Depps Porzingis, right? So late in the Durk era to early in the Luca era when here’s how the Mavs center situation kind of worked out, right? The first year the rotation was Zaza, Pachulia, Jal McGee, and Salamezri, right? And if you’re, you know, if you’ve been keeping up with the NBA for a while, like Zaza’s good, Jale’s good. Uh, they’re not quite at that level of like obvious starter like this is the solution. And then the next year with measury still around, it’s Nerland Noel, Dwight Powell, Andrew Boga. Totally different by committee. And then the next year’s Maxi Cleba, Dwight Powell, Nerland Noel. So now um Maxi Cleba is in the mix and Salameri is still kind of hanging out all this whole time and then DeAndre Jordan is there and then eventually Christophingus is there. So they did do by committee but it didn’t work right and the difference between it didn’t not work like the players they had playing were good but they were still looking for solutions the whole time because a lot of those guys were either low-end level starters or high level backups and they needed more at the spot and they were searching for it and had to get it. So the difference between those Mavs and these Pacers is that was like the end of Durk and so they were less competitive. They were shifting from era to era. It wasn’t like a priority like they have to have to right now get an awesome center but they still were wandering and how to do it. And I wonder if the Pacers will get caught in that spot and have to figure out how to get somebody good. And that is where the problem there in lies is what I started with in that the resources to actually get that player are not available as a spending power thing. You cannot get a good starting count. You can get probably the 20 like with the non- tax pyramid level exception which is probably the highest spending power the pacers will have in the next couple years in in free agency that you could probably get a you know low-end starting level center. And some of you will be like well DeAndre just went into that he’s a starting level center. But he took that deal because he got bought out. His total salary for the season is much higher than his actual contract with the Lakers, right? Like good centers get what like Nas Reed and Miles Turner obviously and that kind of player got this summer. That’s much more than the non-tax mid-level. So actually straight up signing someone to eventually be done with the by committee approach is going to be challenging. So the answer to the what does the future of the Pacers Center position look like? I think the absolute best awesomest case scenario for the Pacers is that it’s Isaiah Jackson or Jay Huff and one of them turns into like a clear as day level starter. Um they both have multiple years left in their deal of cheap contract level. Maybe even Wiseman turns into a good to great player, right? They all have multiple years of cheap contract left, right? That’s a good way to build your team if you have, you know, a player who’s underpaid. The Pacers I think currently have two starters who fit that category. So that’s the best rosiest outlook for the Pacers at center. I would also put that as pretty unlikely. Not because I don’t think Jackson and Hump are good. I do. I just don’t necessarily think that they are starter level players right now. And it’s very rare that you know players this late in their career after four plus years just suddenly vault up to you know not that it hasn’t happened before. It has but it’s very it’s very unusual to vault up like a several tiers of ability. And so that leads you to where the Pacers are now. They don’t have the signing resources to get an awesome big and they don’t internally have a player who projects to slide up into that level of player. So they have to trade most likely to get a starting caliber center. Let’s go back to the spending power. They like to get a 20 plus million dollar center aka a starting level guy, they’d have to send out money, right? to match the salaries. And that’s another problem. Do they want to do that? Are they willing to trade a couple of their bench guys or one of their starters for a center? Like, what if they don’t want to do that? They they might not want to do that. Now, they could if they get like the dream fit center. I don’t even know who that would be. I’m just, you know, hypothesizing. Maybe they would do that. But I think that that would be tricky. Salary matching for the Pacers is hard because they have a lot of good contracts and they have a lot of players who have values in their current deal that giving them up is painful and that’s what makes a trade a trade. But still they it would be tricky for them to give up kind of any of their rotation players for a good center unless it was like a huge upgrade or a really good player. They might not want to do that. Obviously it would depend on what the trade actually is, but that’s like you don’t want to trade an a similar level impact player on the perimeter for a center. That’s just not smart asset management with the way the center position is. And that lands me on the conclusion that at some point in the next year, two years, whatever, you know, by by the trade deadline of 2027, so Hallebertton is playing basketball again, the Pacers probably need to trade for a center who either is currently on their rookie contract and that and thus makes a low enough amount of money that they can be traded for using an exception and then they will be paid like a starter. when that contract is done or trade for a big man who does not have a lot of time left on his current deal and is extension eligible or in free agency would get starter level money because then they if they’re properly paid they can be traded at at that salary number and obviously they need a player of that ability level and so there are lots of guys that kind of fit that bill we talked about some of them right after Miles left from Milwaukee right could they trade for this guy that guy how’s this going to work and they trade for Jay Huff and we’ll run through some of those names the most natural path for it is just like a young big who’s on a rookie scale deal. And we’ll mention some of the names. There’s not that many that are actually good and could be available. Like you could just name any center rookie. Oh, Victor Oyama, Derrick Lively, like yeah, they’re not available, right? So, it’s hard it’s hard to find that middle ground of potentially available and meets this criteria. There are some vets, but if they make less than the mid-level, the mid-level can be used as a trade exception. Now, that is a way for the Pacers to acquire a center who’s very talented, but presently on a contract that not does not reflect that talent level and then pay them that amount and have a good center in the future when it’s time. Obviously, the financial decision would maybe force them to lose someone at that time. But that all these factors together to me are why I think a trade for a center who is making 14.1 million or less in the next season or season and a half and but is due to make more or is more talented than that level is something the Pacers should be trying to do somewhat soon. Let’s talk about some names. Let’s add let’s do Tony’s least favorite thing and name specific players who fit the criteria of this sort of trade mination coming up here on Lockdown Pacers. Before we do that, we need to talk about Monarch Money. Ever wish managing your money felt easier? Well, with Monarch Money, it can. Whether you’re growing your savings or planning a big purchase, Monarch puts you in the driver’s seat. It’s like having your own personal CFO, giving you full visibility and control over your finances. It’s more than just a budgeting app. It’s a complete financial command center. Monarch Money can track all your accounts, investments, and spending in one place. So, in addition to managing your money, you’re also building wealth. So many surprising things you can notice when you use the app, like how much you’re spending on specific categories. Too much takeout or subscriptions? Perfect. Monarch Money will let you know. They have everything you need in one app. It’s super easy to manage your day-to-day money. If you share your finances with somebody, Monarch helps you stay on the same page so you can chase your financial goals and keep everything right in one place where you need it. If you’ve ever been surprised by how fast your spending adds up, you can take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code lockdown NBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That’s monarchmoney.com. Code lockdown NBA for half off of your first year. We are back here on Lockdown Pacers. Thanks for making it to your first listen today and every single day. Our second lesson locked on Clippers. They signed Jordan Miller today. Not a lot has happened. Locked on NBA Wes Goldberg and I on game night went through our most overrated and underrated offseasons. I had a lot of fun talking about the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trailblazers. And we talked about some big market teams, too. Let’s talk about centers that are young and why they specifically matter for this criteria that I’ve described. When you’re drafted, you do not you are not a free agent. You are subject to the rookie scale. If you’re picked in the first round, if you’re picked in the second round, there’s other stuff going on, but whatever. So, what that means is if you’re a good player within your first four years in the NBA, you are just going to be underpaid, right? And then after year four, you get presumably paid closer or up to in some cases more than your market value. And that is why for the Pacers, this is sort of a built-in sweet spot for them potentially to acquire someone. If someone is already good, that obviously helps the Pacers who are good. If they’re on a rookie skill deal, they’re probably young. The Pacers are mostly young, right? A lot of guys with five years of experience or less. I think only three guys with more than that on the whole team. And if they are on a rookie scale deal, they’re cheap enough that the Pacers could trade for them without either sending out a lot of money or just straight up taking them in to a salary cap exception like their DPE for Albertton, like their non-t tax level. Uh, and then at some point in the future being willing to pay them and if they’re actually good and they’re a good fit, perfect. They should want to pay them in that case. So that’s why the rookie skill guys are the sweet spot because if you’re off your rookie skill and you make more, you know, it’s harder for the Pacers to quite like fit you in in a trade. And there are some guys who make small enough amounts that that doesn’t really matter. We’ll talk about that to close this one out. But that rookie scale amount is kind of the sweet spot of if they’re already good and they’re young and they’re going to make more in the future, but they don’t currently make what they should be paid, perfect. The Pacers should in theory want that player. Here’s the problem with that thought. Every team should want that player, right? That’s a very valuable thing to have is a player who is underpaid and good and young. And the third problem with that is why would the team they’re on want to give them up if that is all true? That’s why it takes a very specific overlap of circumstances for those kind of players to wiggle free like Trey Hallebertton to the Pacers or Aaron Emith on his rookie deal to the Pacers or Obby Toppen on his rookie deal to the Pacers. Right? It does happen quite a lot. It just takes specific circumstances. So, they could do it, but it would take something unique. And that’s why I have currently six names typed down and I think three of them are just like maybe not even that, right? Like that that might not even be a guy. Um, Donovan Klingan and Yang Hansen both are on the Blazers and they’re both good and they can both comprise 48 minutes of play at the center spot and then who cares? Why would you get rid of either of them? In fact, I don’t think the Blazers should get rid of either of those players. And yet, they have two guys who qualify for this. We’ll talk about the Blazers in the third segment, too. We talk a little bit more about veterans, but they have two guys who fit the bill. Both of them are in their first or second season. They’re both young. They’re both developing, and they both look like they could be good. Hansen might not fit the Pacers timeline just cuz who knows how good he is, but like Cllingan was pretty good last year. Took him a while to get going. Those two do like I wouldn’t say they’re available. In fact, I’d say the opposite. They’re probably not available, but Portland Center situation at least makes me go, hm. Right. The one that everybody will probably expect me to to say first is Walker Kesler. Walker Kesler is good. Uh he has played with Tyrese Halbertton on Team USA settings before. Obviously, he’s a wonderful good wonderfully good defender. He’s been in trade rumors a lot. Uh the thing about the Jazz is they have a ton of front court players. Philipowski is an awesome offensive player. He just won MVP of summer league. He was good on offense last year for them. They obviously have Kesler. They have other front court talents including Larry Markin who they play at the three, but they have other, you know, players in this mix. Like, could he actually be available? Do they want to pay Walker Kesler? Are they ready to have guys being properly paid as they kind of develop into the next stage? Right? It makes sense why they would consider him a potentially movable piece, especially if the Jazz could get, you know, players or picks or whatever that they like in return. uh for him. So, he’s one that I’m like, man, that would make sense for the Pacers. But if the cost is so high, then what’s the point, right? That is that really something the Pacers want to do? Is he the perfect fit? Can he keep up with the Pacers speed? I don’t know. But he is an interesting one. Um a guy that I’ve had a couple people ask me about that I’m just curious about on his current team is Eve Mei with the Pelicans. He was all rookie last year, I believe. Uh I can’t remember if he was like the last guy who made it or not. So he shouldn’t be available. He shouldn’t be available. However, uh he is on a team that has a new front office, which sometimes is a sign of change of direction or change of of priorities. Granted, EBC is very good. And that that said front office just drafted Derek Queen and got Cavon Looney. And they have other bigs on their team like Carlo Makovich who was pretty good last year, right? Uh is Queen going to be a center? Is Looney going to be a center? Is is Zion going to play enough of the four that they have to decide who’s playing between all these guys? Is it possible that Eve me becomes available with a new front office who did not draft him and other front court players that are better or they did draft on the team? It’s possible. Yeah. Oh yeah, it’s possible. I would not necessarily say that I like expected or anything, but um that one is at least one that made me go, “Oh, let’s talk about that.” Another name I typed down that I would not is is maybe less of a good answer here, but I’m still curious about is Jaylen Duran. Jaylen Duran is good and he fits well with the Pistons and he has this awesome chemistry with the Sar Thompson. Why on earth would he become available? He’s a developing defender. He’s huge. He’s a good rebounder. he’d be good on any team, including the Detroit Pistons who have him and picked him and have started to develop him. Maybe he wouldn’t be available. Maybe, just maybe, just maybe, a team that has Beef Stew on their team already uh and is going to have to eventually in the not too distant future PSR Thompson and Ron Holland. Who’s going to get squeezed out financially? Now, the answer might just be Isaiah Stewart, and he’s actually on the list. forgot to talk about in the third segment, but also fits this bill. In theory, probably not um as good of a of a choice here because he just got traded, but uh Mark Williams kind of fits this cheap right now, center rookie scale deal on a team that who knows um how how much they like him. What if Malawatch is awesome right away? What if Malawatch stinks? Is Malawatch technically won? if Mary’s on Mark Williams team like that that group of players that type of player who’s on rookie scale deals and young and who knows what their team thinks of them all sort of fit the bill to me but there’s not that many that again like that’s why I said mentioned Derrick Lively like there’s a lot of guys who in theory fit the criteria that I’m describing but just aren’t going to be available like there’s just no way these guys I can at least squint at at their situation and go m maybe like a maybe that this guy would be available so keep an eye on those guys just as like uh if something happens in their situation, could they be players? Uh that makes sense for the Pacers. Uh one more that’s not technically a rookie scale deal. I might have him on the wrong side. Jay Lynn, not Jay Dub, Jay Lynn Williams. It’s not a rookie skilled deal, but he’s young, he’s cheap, and he makes less than the mid-level. And OKC is obviously going to be slamming into a financial cliff. And they just drafted a center, the Sorbet, Sorbar, I don’t know how to say his name, kid from Georgetown. Is he going to be a guy that they have to eventually move on from to free up some salary? He’s not quite on a rookie scale deal, but like in theory makes sense to me. Keep an eye on those youngsters as guys who are potentially good, could be in line to be making more in the future, could be starter level players, but are currently not for one reason or another. And someone’s going to comment and say, “Why didn’t you say this guy? Why didn’t you say this guy?” Well, maybe I don’t think they’ll be as available as you. Or maybe I just don’t think they’re as good as you. Or maybe there’s a million other reasons for this. like the there’s this French center on the on the Wolves that I thought about for a second. I was like, “No, they never trade him. He’s good, but like they have a lot of front court players on that team.” Like there’s a lot of guys you could squint and figure something out about, but these ones that I just said, keep an eye on them just to see if their situation changes. Anyway, Duran seems like a stretch. Both the Portland guys seem like a stretch, but something about their situation at least made me think, hm, I should keep an eye on that situation. Let’s talk about veterans. We talked about this a little bit after Turner’s departure, but more clarity on every team, more clarity on the Pacers center situation. Let’s close out today’s show with veteran centers who could fit the criteria of a good Pacers trade target. Back here on Locked on Pacers, thanks for making it first listen today and every single day or second listen any of our lockdown shows covering the teams of these crazy restricted free agents. Tough tough time for Quinton Grimes, Josh Giddy, Cam Thomas, and Jonathan Kuminga on the market right now. Will they be signed? Will they take the qualifying offer? What’s going to happen there? Those shows can help you. Uh something to mention is that like obviously the free agent center class next year’s like decent, right? Um Hartinstein, depending on his option, Mitchell Robinson’s unrestricted. Robert Williams, Mo Vagner, Nick Richards, Drummond. He’s not good anymore, but there there will be like some good centers available as free agents next year. Are any of those guys I just said actually starter level centers? Yeah, I think Mitchell Robinson probably is and that’s it. If Isaiah Hardenstein’s option gets picked up by the Thunder. So again, trading for somebody whose situation makes them available, but they’re still good enough that their contract could go up and they could grow into a starting level player makes a lot of sense for the Pacers. Who is cheap enough, who could wiggle free, who in the veteran groups, what I’ve called this in my notes is expiring contract centers or soon expiring contract centers, and that’s relevant because that either means they’re extension eligible or they’re about to be a free agent that could have a bumped up salary for trade purposes for the Pacers or real purposes, they get paid more because they’re good. That would be the group that I would be saying these are the vets that I would get it if the Pacers trade for them. Something about their salary, their ability, or their current team situation makes them an interesting target. Now, there’s some guys I typed down that have hard trade in parentheses after their name, which means they fit this criteria technically, but they make more than the non- tax pyramid level exception. So, trading for them is hard. The pers have to match salary, and that’s not easy to do in their situation without like blowing past the tax or like trading stuff that actually is good or valuable. So like Zack Collins, he’s not that great, but he’s expiring technically. He probably would receive a pay decrease next year. Uh but Isaiah Hardenstein, um Ysef Nerk, hilariously, like all those guys are are talented, I guess. But they make so much that they are a challenging specific trade piece and they’re just more like see if they if they’re available in the future, perhaps they could be a Pacers fit. The rest of the list, though, Mo Vagner, one year, 5 million with the Magic, right? Could he be a starting level player? Who knows? He’s coming off of a torn ACL. is on a team with lots of centers. There’ll be lots of magic guys coming up in this segment. Could any of them be starter level? Could any of them be worthy of a deal closer to 20 million? It’d be hard to pay Mo Vagner 20 million. You can’t extend him at that number. You can’t sign him at that number, but uh he is a good player. Andre Drummond, uh he’s just not that great anymore, but he does fit this criteria. Expiring on a $5 million deal. Wendell Carter is a guy I keep coming back to. The Magic are going to maybe duck the tax. They’re so close to it. Teams usually as close as they do try to get under. He makes about 10.7 I think million is his capid this year and then he has an extension that starts next year that almost starts at 20 million. I think it’s like a three or 57 million extension for Wendell Carter starting next season. So another reason for the Magic who are about to be dealing with financial not hell they’re, you know, they’re paying good players fairly, but a tougher financial situation where they could just straight up get off of Wendell Carter, trade his 10 million to the Pacers, they fit it in the non-tax mid-level and then when his contract goes up, they don’t have to deal with it. That does make sense as a trade fit to me, but he’s also a good player and a starting level player for a team that could win the East. Why would the Magic be wanting to dump him right now, but I’m at least keeping an eye on Orlando. I already said Vuch hard trade. He’s a good player on the Bulls making 20 million right now. He’s not worth 20 million. Um Isaiah Harden did. Jonas Valenunis, he fits into the mid-level. His contract with a team option could be expiring next year. Uh he probably doesn’t want to be in the NBA anymore, it seems like. So, uh, tough one there, but again fits the the contract criteria that we’ve laid out. Nick Richards actually got linked to the Pacers by Michael Scott. Keep an eye on that. Obviously, uh, he makes less than on tax mid level. He’s probably underpaid his 5 million, but he’s not a starting level center. He’s a good rotation level center, though. Certainly, the Nick Richards interest should have been a tip that like the Jay Huff trade and similar deals should have been more like obvious or telling for the Pacers. By the way, I thought that when I typed his name down. There’s Jaylin Williams. So, I typed just straight up in the wrong column for some reason. Uh, Mitchell Robinson’s an interesting one here. The Knicks brought in Yabuselli. They still have Carl Towns. They have a new head coach. Who knows how much that coach is going to prioritize Mitchell Robinson. Mitchell Robinson is is a very interesting one to me. Why would the Knicks move, right? Like that question makes me go, why am I typing this down? He’s a good player on a team that could win the East this year. He gave the Pacers so much trouble in the playoffs. His rebounding was huge. They were like way better with him on the floor. And then they got another big in free agency and again they have Cal on their team. Like can they afford to pay him? They’re expensive, right? He’s deserving of a raise. He’s a starting level center and he makes less than mid-level this year. His salary decreases over last year. I actually would understand him being a trade candidate and that’s why I typed him down. And that one I’m putting in the Wendell Carter category of like cuz he’s a free agent after this year. He’d be making starter level money. Mitchell Robinson would to me he’d be like the 20th best center league. Like that makes sense to me. Then he’d fit well with the Pacers. Mitchell Robinson, put him in the either young center or Wendell Carter category of like I would understand this very much for the Pacers. This makes a lot of sense. Goa, welcome to another Pacers podcast. Uh he is on Mo Vagner and um Wendell Carter’s team. He is good. He expires in two years. Uh and he doesn’t make very much right now. He’s probably not starter level, but he’s good. He’s a quality player. See, he he probably does not quite qualify. All right, back to the Blazers. Robert Williams is on the Blazers. Robert Williams has in the past been awesome like starter level defensive big certainly uh and he got paid pretty well after that season with Boston and then has dealt with like a trillion injuries since and that’s why his value is not very high. Uh it might just be like free honestly. So last three seasons, three combined seasons. Again, let me reiterate what I’m saying out loud. Since 2022 23, Robert Williams has paid played 61 total games. He has never played more than that exact number 61 in a season. His trade value might be negative on his current deal. When he plays, he’s good. He’s an interesting one to me for the Pacers just to like sniff around on if you were available. Uh, and then two guys who kind of don’t fit the criteria that I’ve set up for this segment, which is their contract expires soon and then they could slide into a salary slot that makes more sense for the Pacers or makes more sense for them. You know, that’s kind of what the lot everybody I just said kind of fit into. Although some of those guys probably wouldn’t get the salary slot that I’m describing. There’s two guys who make in the mid to high teens that are good and that are on a team that either is in a salary or front court situation that to me would at least like I could squint and be like, “Oh, you could be available as a good center.” One of them is Isaiah Stewart, who for the opposite reason of Duran, like if he’s Dur’s backup, but uh oh, the Pistons can’t afford all these guys. Here comes the apron and tax boogeyman, right? They’re going to have to pay a sar in Holland eventually. They’re still a couple seasons away from that, but still beef stew at 50 million. He’s good, man. Isaiah Stewart’s really good when he plays. Injuries have been a thing for him, but he’s good. He’s tough. He can spread the floor out. He’d be a good fit, I think, with the Pacers should he actually be available. And then Daniel Gaffford, who got an extension that I believe is exactly the max extension he could get and still be trade eligible immediately. People interpret that as meaning like the Mavs are up to something. The reason that the way that works is the way that you are trade eligible immediately after an extension is that you sign an extension that you could have just signed with another team, right? So that that that doesn’t really signal that a trade is imminent to me. Although maybe it ups his trade value just that he’s on that deal for so long, especially if he plays well. That team has Derek Lively, that team has Anthony Davis, that team has Cooper Flag, that team has PJ Washington, that team has Naji Marshall. That’s a lot of front court dudes. Daniel Gaffford is good uh and has this year plus the extension left on his deal. He I think would fit into the young player and or Wendell Carter, Beef Stew, Rob Williams category. Mitchell Robinson I guess of keep your eyes peeled. This would make a lot of sense to me for the Pacers as a trade target and for the other team to actually consider for some reason or another. That’s what I think about the future of the Pacers at center. That’s how they can get a player that I think makes sense for their team. But the hope for the Pacers should be that Isaiah Jackson or Jay Huff is the answer to their problems. We’ll deep dive into Huff tomorrow. Tomorrow’s show is one of my favorite and listeners seem to love this. Every offseason I got an expert who has covered or or deeply scouted or watched uh all of the Pacers newbies onto one show. So um a Marquette, someone who covers Marquette talking for 10 minutes about Cam Jones, someone who covers the Grizzlies for 10 minutes about Jay Huff, and then a draft expert on Taylor Peter. Really looking forward to that. And then Friday, it’s August, we’ll do Veteran Questions, the Daniel Ty show that I’ve been doing every summer since Daniel Ty. And then next week, it’s August, the fun stuff, the zany stuff. And a mailbag is coming. So, I hope you guys enjoy all that. Lots of good stuff coming here on Lockdown Pacers. Hope you guys enjoyed today’s episode. You can find me on Twitter and Blue Sky, Tony Aris. This podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, Lockdown Pacers on both. Thank you all so much for listening. We will see you very soon.

The Indiana Pacers lost Myles Turner and have many young centers. What is the team’s long-term outlook at center? What type of big men should they be looking to trade for? Host Tony East breaks it all down.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOPacers?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

📲 Follow Locked On Pacers on Twitter
Locked On Pacers https://twitter.com/lockedonpacers
Tony East https://twitter.com/TonyREast

#Pacers #IndianaPacers #NBA #PacersPodcast #IndianaPacersPodcast #TyreseHaliburton #BennedictMathurin #PascalSiakam
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Time to fuel up and turn it up with 5-hour ENERGY®️ Transfusion! Go to https://5hourenergy.com today and use my promo code LOCKEDONGOLF to receive 20% off your order. This offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions. The code is not good on subscription orders.

Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Right now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)