Pacers Urged to Consider NBA Offseason Trade With Lakers

The Indiana Pacers will need to be creative this offseason. After losing their first-round pick, Kevin Pritchard and the front office will need to manage their financial situation while targeting help in free agency or the trade market.

More than likely, the path to improvement will come via a trade. That would allow the Pacers to send salary out while also bringing some in.

Keeping that in mind, there have been quite a few suggestions of potential trade targets for Indiana to consider.

One of the most intriguing trade ideas would see the Pacers target a player within their division. That player is none other than Chicago Bulls wing Isaac Okoro.

Another idea has been suggested that would see Indiana make a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bleacher Report's Dan Favale has suggested that Lakers' forward Jake LaRavia could make sense for the Pacers.

"Jake LaRavia's three-ball has tapered off, but he's churned out better percentages amid modest volume in the past and can fill point-of-attack and general wing gaps on defense," Favale wrote.

"Though the Pacers don't have dispensable salaries who will interest the Los Angeles Lakers, roping in a third team who nudges up Hollywood's projected league-best cap space could get the job done."

LaRavia is coming off of a 2025-26 NBA season in Los Angeles where he played in 82 games and made 43 starts. He averaged 8.2 points per game to go along with four rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals, while also shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from three-point range.

During the 2024-25 NBA season split between the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, LaRavia averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and also shot 47.5 percent overall and 42.3 percent from three-point distance.

At the very least, it's an interesting idea worth keeping an eye on. LaRavia could be a nice bench addition for Indiana.

Add in the fact that LaRavia is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and the fit gets even more interesting.

Expect to hear plenty of rumors about the Pacers as the offseason gets underway. They have been very vocal about wanting to be aggressive, but creativity will be key from the front office.