After reaching the 2025 NBA Finals last season, the Indiana Pacers’ situation this season has taken a complete 180. The Pacers are currently the worst team in the league this year, ranking dead last with a 6-31 record.
This has a lot to do with the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. During the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon, forcing him to miss the rest of the series and the 2025-26 season. Then there’s the fact that Myles Turner decided to leave Indiana to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Pacers Aim to Secure a New Center Before Trade Deadline
With all that in mind, it appears that the Pacers are going to attempt to resolve one major issue they currently have this season in hopes of turning their season around before the trade deadline.
According to recent reports, the Pacers are aiming to trade for a new center. The departure of Turner hit them hard, powering down the team’s presence inside the paint. While the chances of the Pacers returning to their status as contenders this season are extremely low, it’s best if they can resolve their biggest issue as early as possible, in preparation for the return of Haliburton.
Reports suggest that Indiana is looking at five centers who could help them contend for a title by next season. These players are, namely, Walker Kessler, Ivica Zubac, Nicolas Claxton, Daniel Gafford, and Yves Missi.
Out of the centers, Zubac, Gafford, and Missi are the likely options for the Pacers. An NBA insider revealed that the Los Angeles Clippers have named their price on their big man. The Clippers will be willing to take a couple of first-round picks in exchange for Zubac.
Meanwhile, Gafford is also a good pick for the Pacers. Given the current circumstances of the Dallas Mavericks, it appears that the Texas-based team is slowly entering its rebuilding phase.
With that in mind, they could likely trade Gafford to begin the much-needed rebuild, especially now that they’re trying to establish their rookie, Cooper Flagg, as the new face of the franchise.
As for Missi, the New Orleans Pelicans are underutilizing him this season. With the Pelicans clearly struggling to climb the ranks, being 15th in the Western Conference with an 8-30 record, they could let go of their 21-year-old center in exchange for a few extra pieces.
The NBA trade deadline will fall on Feb. 5. The Pacers have a little under a month remaining until they decide which direction they want to go in terms of solving their current issues.
