A fatal mistake the Pacers must fix at the 2025 NBA trade deadline

The Indiana Pacers are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 22-18 as of this writing. After making a deep run in the postseason during the 2023-24 season, Indiana will be challenged this season as they try to climb the standings. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are in tremendous position to make deep postseason runs this year, but the Pacers could make things interesting by making a trade or two before the upcoming deadline.

The Pacers have endured a mediocre start to the season. Fans wondered if last season was a fluke. However, the Pacers are starting to play well once again, re-establishing themselves as a legitimate contending team.

Trade rumors are already starting to swirl around this Pacers team. However, how should Indiana approach the trade deadline? Should they simply look to add a few players for depth? Will they try to land a superstar?

Tyrese Halliburton is a star guardian. Miles Turner is one of the better centers in the NBA, while Pascal Siakam is a versatile striker who can defend multiple positions if needed. The Pacers, however, would benefit from the addition of a versatile wing who can score at a high level.

Now we can talk about specific positions, but in all realities positions are not as important as they once were. Technically, Indiana should add a small forward or guard, but they shouldn’t focus too much on specific positions. The Pacers need to add a player who can provide versatility on the wing while playing alongside Haliburton, Turner and Siakam.

Benedict Maturin and Andrew Nembhard are both good players. However, moving one of them to the bench would only add to the Pacers’ depth. Any player could handle the role of sixth man off the bench.

Who should Indiana be looking for?

There are several potential trade candidates, but one star makes the most sense. Before we talk about that player, it’s worth mentioning Brandon Ingram would fit the Pacers roster. Ingram, however, is dealing with an injury, which makes a possible deal risky.

If the Pacers want a player that will help the team without forcing them to give up a large amount of picks/talent, then Kyle Kuzma should be a candidate. At 29, Kuzma is under contract through the 2026-27 season. He’s not a superstar by any means, but Kuzma is a versatile player who can make an impact on both ends of the floor.

Kuzma is averaging 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists this season. He also shoots 43 percent from the field. He is having one of his worst three-point shooting seasons of his career, shooting just 25.3 percent from beyond the arc. But with everything else Kuzma has to offer, the Pacers can overcome his three-point shooting issues given the fact that they are ninth in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (37.2 percent).

Brandon Ingram or Kyle Kuzma would be respectable additions. However, with Ingram currently dealing with an injury, trading for Kuzma may be their best option.