The Indiana Pacers should consider trading for this defensive-minded guard

The Indiana Pacers need more defense on the team. It’s not a secret. They clearly have an offense good enough to win a title. The problem is they don’t have enough guys who can stop the other team from scoring. That’s where this offseason comes in.

Indiana has already locked down its biggest free agency priority. Now they must rally the players around their two stars to get them over the hump. One way to do this is to trade for defensive-minded players. Single player would be a good idea to grab.

Questions remain as to whether Andrew Nembhard is best used as a starter alongside Tyrese Haliburton. His improvement has been truly impressive over the course of the season, but it might be better for him to lead his own unit. That’s where this trade comes in.

If the Pacers want a guard who can really shut down other players, Alex Caruso would be the perfect target. Rumors are swirling that the Bulls are looking to move him. So what would be a good package to bring him to Indiana that wouldn’t be too much?

Trading TJ McConnell and a few picks should accomplish that. The Bulls are stuck in the middle. As much as owners want to continue to be competitive, they simply don’t have the talent to do so. They need choices to help them rebuild down the line. The Pacers have a plethora of them.

Being able to trade McConnell would allow Caruso to start alongside Tyrese Haliburton and give Nembhard the keys to the backup unit. Teaming up with an elite defenseman next to Haliburton might be worth giving up a valuable veteran in McConnell.

Personally, I think the Pacers need a wing even more than a guard. Aaron Nesmith was solid, but he would do better coming off the bench. Nesmith and Nembhard are the two weakest starters, even though they are both pretty good. They must determine which of them they want to move to the bench.