The Indiana Pacers are reportedly trading Victor Oladipo for Caris LeVert, using in a new chapter of Pacers basketball

James Harden traded from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets. That ‘s the headline from the big deals that shook many NBA competitors earlier in the week. But the Indiana Pacers got involved in the situation as well; them too reportedly removed the former All-NBA guard in a related contract.

The Pacers dealt two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo to Houston in the complex craft pair that included multiple draft selections and more than half a dozen players. In exchange, Indiana acquired the skilful wing of Caris LeVert from Brooklyn and a future second-round draft pick from Houston.

It’s a licensing change deal for the Pacers. And to understand why the team made this trade for LeVert, one has to go back a few years. They acquired Oladipo, along with Domantas Sabonis, back in 2017 when the group traded away Paul George. That package was seen as a terrible return for George, who was a three-time All-NBA player at the time. But things changed quickly.

Oladipo amended the statement on the contract. In his first season with the Pacers, former Indiana Hoosier honed his skills to a level never seen before in the NBA, making an All-NBA team and burying a clutch bullet after a clutch shot . Most analysts predicted that the blue and gold would win somewhere between 30 and 35 games after the team dealt with George. But Oladipo was so electronic and controlling that Indiana won 48 games and went toe-to-toe with LeBron James in the playoffs, almost eliminating the Cavaliers.

It felt like a movie. The local college star had returned to the same state to recapture the hearts of fans. Oladipo said everything a fan would want to hear from a star player, and he backed up his words with stellar play. It practically changed Pacers ’fortunes overnight.

Then everything changed. In January of 2019, Oladipo suffered a torn quadriceps tendon on his right knee. He missed more than a year of games and spent some of his time recycling in Miami. When he finally returned to action, he announced his return date in a video by NBA reporter Shams Charania and not in his own way or through the Pacers. It felt weird at the time, but it wasn’t a big deal by itself.

The following summer, he chose not to play in the NBA bubble, which was also mentioned in an article posted in The Athletics written by Charania. When asked by Head Coach Nate McMillan how he found out Oladipo would choose to play, he said, “Well done your boys. We knew he was thinking that. But when that decision was released, that was Victor’s call. ” The communication between Oladipo and the Pacers was full.

Just a few weeks later, however, he decided to play in Orlando after all. It was another example of something becoming unnecessarily complex. It wasn’t clear what exactly had happened, but somewhere between Oladipo’s injury and his return, something changed and he became something separate from the Pacers.

That led to speculation about his future, and shortly after the 2019-20 season, reports began to appear that Oladipo did not expect him to be in Indiana in the long run. When asked about his future, Oladipo would often say “he couldn’t control the rumors,” or “he had no control over the future.” But he had some control over his future with the Pacers. And with each passing day and report, including former Phoenix Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough who was an All-Star guard they turned down a multi-year contract extension offer from the Pacers, it became clearer that the Oladipo-Indiana partnership seemed to be coming to an end soon.

Oladipo, by rejecting that extension, has entered the consecutive season on an expiring contract, which means he can choose which team he will play for next season. offseason. Instead of losing the former All-Star, who may have wanted to leave Indiana, with nothing, the Pacers headquarters proactively implemented it. They used Oladipo’s strong play early in the season as an opportunity and traveled into Harden’s contract. Eventually, the Pacers dealt with Oladipo for LeVert and a second-round pick, and all of a sudden, a player who was once fired has become a licensed icon.

“We lost a very good player,” Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon said Thursday before the trade became official. “But this team is going to keep playing good ball and keep up the good work,” he said.

The Pacers are now moving into a new era, without Oladipo. And that new era features Caris LeVert, a talented player who is both skilled and still getting better.

LeVert, 26, was selected by the Pacers in the 2016 NBA Draft, but was immediately treated to the Nets in exchange for Thaddeus Young. At the time, Brooklyn was the perfect place for Michigan production. The team was rebuilding, meaning LeVert was able to contribute and play a big part early in his career.

That accelerated his development. The latest Pacer increased his scoring average in each of his four seasons with the Nets and helped lead the team from the Eastern Conference base to the playoffs. Along the way, he improved his pitch and defense, and became a fast-paced pitcher with very few key holes in his game. A long injury history undermines LeVert’s overall value, but when he’s healthy and playing, he’s a force on the court.

“He’s as good as the ball in his hands,” Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Steve Nash said of LeVert ahead of the season. Nash praised LeVert’s ability to run the second unit as well as close games.

That flexibility is part of what the Pacers thought about this deal. Caris LeVert averages 18.5 points and is currently assisting 6.0 assists per game. He’s talented and can play in many roles, not to mention he’s only in his fifth year in the league. It will improve in the coming seasons. That’s a nice player.

In terms of fundraising, LeVert is three years younger than Oladipo and at the same time on a cheaper contract. That makes it a valuable piece, and when combined with a second – round pick, it ‘s a good drag as a trade – off of a player who could have left the Pacers with nothing at the end of seasons.

Now, the Pacers can turn their attention to the future. LeVert’s current contract runs for two seasons longer than the current one, which goes nicely with other key members of the Indiana roster. The four players with the most time for Indiana so far this season – Sabonis, Myles Turner, Justin Holiday, and Brogdon, will all be under contract for the entire LeVert contract. Many of the Pacers ’hearts are locked in the future, and that doesn’t even account for players like Aaron Holiday and TJ Warren, whose blue and gold are also under contract for several seasons.

Looking back on the huge trade benefits of Kevin Pritchard’s tenure as President of the team, LeVert fits the Pusrs ’current headquarters modus operandi. Pritchard traded for Oladipo and Sabonis in 2017, Warren in 2019, and now LeVert in 2021. What do all these players have in common? They were all currently talented players who had several seasons left on their contract at a viable price. LeVert is just like that, and all the other great crafts that Pritchard has done are good for his team.

Indiana is a new era. Oladipo was no longer the best player, or even the leader of the locker room, on the team. But for many, including some fans, he was still against the franchise. Now it’s gone, and the fact that it’s officially removed means it’s time for a new chapter of Pacers basketball. Indiana is 8-4 this season under new Head Coach Nate Bjorkgren and is looking forward to short-term success. With Caris LeVert in the fold, the Pacers are giving themselves a better chance of success in the short term and growth in the long run.