Pacers Already Exploring Trade Market Amid Rough Start

The Indiana Pacers have gotten off to a very slow start this season, partly due to injuries taking over the team.

Indiana is currently 4-8 on the year, with the team struggling to find any consistency on the floor. Despite entering the season with high expectations, the Pacers just haven't been able to find their footing.

Star guard Tyrese Haliburton remains out due to a hamstring injury that has forced him to miss multiple games. This has caused the Pacers to struggle again, with Haliburton being the engine that drives this organization.

But due to the issues that the Pacers have seen this season, the team is already reportedly looking to make some moves to bolster the roster. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Pacers have already explored some "mid-tier" moves to upgrade the team.

After last season, the Pacers want to make sure that they don't fall too far behind the standings. Indiana was able to win just 19 games a year ago, missing the playoffs entirely.

But Haliburton was out for the entire season, leaving the team with limited options on how to improve the roster. With him back on the court this season, the Pacers believe that they can be a playoff team again, with the intent to go after a title.

Indiana has the collection of talent to make that happen, but this group has to find a way to get itself going. The Pacers can't solely rely on Haliburton to save them; otherwise, it could be another long season for this franchise.

Haliburton is the leader of the Pacers, yes, but he can't do everything alone, especially while he's injured right now. So, as Indiana looks at the trade front, there are a few areas of need for this team.

One comes from the backcourt, which could help take the burden off Haliburton when he does return from the injury. Indiana needs someone else who can control the offense, helping to set guys up with good shot attempts.

The other area of need is in the frontcourt, where center Ivica Zubac hasn't lived up to the hype. While Zubac has played a little better over his last few games, the Pacers do need more from the center spot, and depth could be the answer.

Overall, the Pacers have some options to work with, unlike last season, and this team can't afford to wait to improve this roster. Other teams in the Eastern Conference keep winning, and if Indiana isn't careful, they could fall even further behind.