Indiana Pacers Urged To Trade for Two-Time Finals MVP

The Indiana Pacers have a pivotal offseason ahead as they look to be contenders in the 2026-27 season.

The Pacers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in the 2024-25 season, with Tyrese Haliburton going down with a torn Achilles tendon.

That caused Haliburton to miss the entire 2025-26 season, leading to the Pacers' struggles, finishing with a 19-63 record. Rather than reaping the rewards of a top pick, Indiana made a risky trade, protecting their first-round pick 1-4 and 10-30 in a deal to acquire center Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, in the draft lottery, that pick ended up fifth, which sent it to the Clippers. While it was a disappointing result for the Pacers, they still have a ton of talent on the roster and will be in the mix to win the Eastern Conference next season.

Indiana could end up being more aggressive and acquire a third star alongside Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

The Pacers are being urged to consider acquiring another Clipper, in two-way superstar Kawhi Leonard.

Indiana originally drafted Leonard before they traded him to the San Antonio Spurs in a draft-day deal.

The two-time Finals MVP is coming off a great season, as he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. The 34-year-old shot an efficient 50.5 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three.

He could be the lead scorer for the Pacers and fit well alongside an elite playmaker like Haliburton. While Leonard is no longer the two-time Defensive Player of the Year he once was, he still plays well on the defensive end of the floor.

However, there is some risk in a trade for Leonard, as he only has one year remaining on his deal worth $50.3 million. Leonard has also had some injury concerns in his career, but he did appear in 65 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

The Pacers have some big decisions to make this offseason, and while they have the assets to make another major move, they could opt to hold on to their depth for now and reevaluate at the trade deadline.

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