The Indiana Pacers should look into the option of poaching a key starter from the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Indiana Pacers are gearing up for the 2026 NBA offseason. Just one year removed from playing in the NBA Finals, the team is heading into the offseason after a 19-63 campaign.
Usually, having that kind of a rough season results in a high draft pick. That isn't the case for the Pacers.
Ahead of the NBA trade deadline, Indiana pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire star center Ivica Zubac. Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers included their 2026 draft pick, top-four protected, in the deal.
Last Sunday, Indiana saw the NBA Draft Lottery ping pong balls bounce the wrong way. After entering the lottery with the No. 2 overall pick tied for the best odds for No. 1, the Pacers' pick slid to No. 5 overall and conveyed to the Clippers.
Now, Pritchard and company will need to get creative during the offseason to improve.
Looking ahead at NBA free agency, there are a few players who could make a lot of sense for Indiana. One of those players is Los Angeles Lakers' free agent Rui Hachimura.
During the 2025-26 NBA season with the Lakers, Hachimura played in 68 games and made 41 starts. He averaged 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor and 44.3 percent from three-point range.
He had bigger numbers during the 2024-25 campaign in Los Angeles. During that season, he averaged 13.1 points, five rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
At 28 years old, Hachimura would bring great three-point shooting, solid defense, and the ability to play off of the ball. He would fit nicely alongside of Tyrese Haliburton, who will make his return to the court next season after missing all of the 2025-26 year due to the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Whether or not the Pacers can afford to sign Hachimura will be the biggest question.
Right now, Indiana doesn't have much financial flexibility. However, Pritchard has been very open about his intention to be aggressive this offseason. The Pacers could decide to go into the tax or they could also choose to pull off a trade.
Only time will tell, but there are still ways for the team to improve. Finding a way to poach Hachimura away from the Lakers would be one of those ways.