[The following submission is from the top-performing Indiana Pacers, run by students in the mock deadline practicum at the SBC Las Vegas Immersive.]

Assignment: Indiana Pacers

Team Members: Kyle Goodier, Preston Klaus, Zuhair Rizvon, Owen Boquette, Sabrina White, Classie Kelise

Our first move was to determine our organizational direction for the franchise. As a small-market team that has recently struggled to be a consistent playoff contender, we agreed the goal should be to lay the foundation for long-term success through the NBA draft.

That might mean a lengthier path before the team would genuinely contend, but our group concluded it was best not to rush prematurely with a young roster. Indiana doesn’t have a long history as a free-agent destination, which helped us settle on the draft as our primary tool to build long-term.

We felt we already had a young star in Tyrese Haliburton, a lengthy 22-year-old guard who can facilitate and score with incredible efficiency (50% from the floor and 42% from 3). With Haliburton as our foundational piece, we set out to acquire draft picks for our scouts to surround him with complementary players. In the short term, we wanted to fill the roster with young players on controllable rookie contracts to provide our array of young players opportunities to develop.

In focusing on youth, we chose to shop veterans Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. Although Turner is relatively young (25), he didn’t quite fit our timeline, with only one year remaining on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent. The hope was a contender would value him highly, willing to trade significant draft capital to acquire him. We found that in the Dallas Mavericks, who sent us two first-round picks for Turner along with Dwight Powell, Josh Green and Wenyen Gabriel (who the Mavericks had acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers). The pick in 2027 is unprotected, while the 2029 selection has light protections. Most importantly, both convey after Luka Doncic’s current contract expires. We saw potential in 21-year-old Green and believed Powell, who has played under Coach Carlisle, would be a good veteran presence for our young players.

Additionally, we sent Hield to the Charlotte Hornets for Gordon Hayward and a 2029 unprotected first-round pick. Hield, 29, didn’t fit our timeline, and while Hayward is older (32), we liked the idea of the Indiana native as a draw (the franchise was 30th in attendance last season). He’s an above-average shooter and another veteran for the locker room. More importantly, in helping the Hornets shed Hayward’s salary, we were excited to add another unprotected pick. Charlotte has only made three playoff appearances in 20 years. That selection may benefit the Pacers several years from now or be the ticket to a blockbuster trade once our coming youth movement matures.

With the two moves ahead of the SBC Practicum trade deadline, the Pacers finished with 12 first-round picks over the next seven years. Since seven are our own firsts, the goal would be to find exciting young players to partner with Haliburton. Our roster consists of a dozen players at 25 years old or younger. Seven were former 1st round picks. While the first season or two may be challenging, we believe the foundation will quickly form and that the Pacers will become a consistent playoff contender within four years.

Trade 1

  • Indiana received: Dwight Powell, Wenyen Gabriel, Josh Green, 2027 first-rounder (unprotected), 2029 first-rounder (top-10 protected else conveys as a 2029 second-rounder).
  • Dallas received: Myles Turner.

Trade 2

  • Indiana received: Gordon Hayward, 2029 first-rounder (unprotected)
  • Charlotte received: Buddy Hield.

Other

  • Waived Nik Stauskas, Duane Washington Jr, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan.
  • Signed Andrew Nembhard to a four-year, $8.6 million contract with a team option on the final season.
  • Signed Kendall Brown to a two-way contract.
  • Signed Jordan Nwora to a two-year, $10.25 million offer sheet. The Milwaukee Bucks declined to match.

— Kyle Goodier and Preston Klaus