The Indiana Pacers are likely to see a down year without superstar point guard Tyrese Haliburton at the helm.
After back-to-back Conference Finals appearances and one NBA Finals appearance, the Pacers have been predicted to compete for a play-in spot ahead of the 2025-26 season.
But that doesn’t mean Indiana can’t prepare themselves for a future run at an NBA championship once Haliburton is back and healthy.
The Pacers could try and cash in on the value of their role players, whose stock may be higher than usual thanks to their deep postseason runs.
Pacers Trade Proposal Lands Trey Murphy III From Pelicans
In a trade idea proposed by Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, the Indiana Pacers would acquire New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III.
Indiana Pacers receive: Trey Murphy III
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 top-five protected first-round pick
“Right from the jump, we’ll acknowledge that pulling Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans could be tough. They might insist on a little more draft consideration, but the Indiana Pacers should probably be willing to pay it,” wrote Bailey.
“This deal would also allow Indiana to skip out on Bennedict Mathurin’s restricted free agency. And while the Pelicans may not be eager to deal with that, he does have some upside as a heat-check scorer.”
For the Pacers, cutting ties with two key contributors to their NBA Finals run would sting.
But the reality is, Obi Toppin and Bennedict Mathurin’s value may never be this high again, and acquiring a player of Murphy’s caliber would be an elite addition to a team with championship aspirations.
The first round picks are a lot to give up as well, but by then, Haliburton will be back, and those draft selections will likely fall in the mid-to-late 20s.
Murphy provides the Pacers with an elite third star, and his three-and-D abilities are the perfect complement to both Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
Why the Pelicans Make the Deal
For the New Orleans Pelicans, adding two high-upside players and first-round selections is a no-brainer, especially considering the team won’t be rebuilt in time for Murphy’s prime.
Mathurin shone throughout the NBA Finals, scoring a combined 51 points in Games 3 and 7. His potential as a scorer is higher than anyone on the Pelicans roster, not named Zion Williamson.
Toppin, meanwhile, is the perfect glue guy for any NBA team. He can start, come off the bench, and play multiple positions thanks to his size and athleticism.
When analyzing the trade, Sports Brodas’ Obeagu Kante emphasized the importance of New Orleans continuing to stock draft capital.
“Adding two promising players plus valuable future draft capital—specifically a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 top-5 protected first-round pick—positions the Pelicans well for sustained growth and flexibility,” wrote Kante.
“This approach aligns with New Orleans’ long-term rebuilding and talent accumulation strategy.”
If both teams want to set themselves up for success in the future, this is a no-brainer deal that leaves each franchise a winner.
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