The Indiana Pacers have been one of the NBA’s best stories over the last few years.
A team that was initially lacking direction turned into an Eastern Conference contender almost overnight with the trade that landed point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
They made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024, and then the NBA Finals in 2025, falling in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in that pivotal Game 7 and will most likely miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
The Pacers are projected to take a step back without their floor general leading the way this season, but they can also use this opportunity to retool and create a better situation for Haliburton to come back to in 2026.
Pacers Trade Proposal Lands Nic Claxton from the Nets
The Indiana Pacers lost longtime center Myles Turner this offseason, who was lured away from Indy by their division rival Milwaukee Bucks, with a four-year, $108.8 million deal.
Now, without a center, the Pacers can turn to the Brooklyn Nets to find a new one, with Eddie Batir of Fadeaway World proposing a deal that would land Indiana center Nic Claxton.
Indiana Pacers receive: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets receive: Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson, 2028 first-round pick, 2030 second-round pick, 2032 second-round pick
“Claxton’s switchability, vertical presence, and rim-running ability fit perfectly alongside Indiana’s fast-paced offense and versatile forwards. He is also only 26 years old and that fits the Pacers timeline right now,” wrote Batir.
“He’s also one of the league’s most natural shot blockers, averaging 1.7 per game over his career while showing improved discipline as a help defender. On offense, he thrives as a lob target and pick-and-roll finisher which is an ideal match once Haliburton returns to orchestrate the offense.”
While Claxton certainly isn’t the stretch five that Turner has been for the last decade, he provides an immediate upgrade defensively as one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.
At only 26 years old, he has plenty of time to grow within Indiana’s system, especially in a year where they won’t have Haliburton.
Would the Nets Make This Trade?
The Brooklyn Nets have been in a perpetual state of rebuilding ever since they parted ways with Kevin Durant.
This trade would continue those rebuilding efforts, landing Brooklyn depth pieces that they can turn into trade assets along with multiple premier draft selections.
“Both Toppin and Jackson fit Brooklyn’s developmental timeline. Toppin (10.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 36.5% 3-PT FG), still just 27, has shown flashes of offensive versatility and could flourish with more touches in an open system. Jackson (7.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG) offers elite athleticism and defensive instincts, giving the Nets another young big to evaluate,” continued Batir.
“More importantly, the incoming draft picks would help replenish Brooklyn’s assets, which remain limited after past superstar trades. With the Nets currently projected near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, this is a solid deal for them.”
While the trade doesn’t provide immediate win-now value for the Nets, it does help their long-term outlook by building up future capital.
It could even provide them with enough firepower to make a monster proposal for a certain superstar in Milwaukee that could become available for trade in the coming years.
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