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NBA Trade Deadline: The trade each team must make

By Michael Dunlap

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) and center Kendrick Perkins (5) watch the game against the Memphis Grizzlies from the bench during the second half of game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) and center Kendrick Perkins (5) watch the game against the Memphis Grizzlies from the bench during the second half of game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 2, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Jarrett Jack (0) reacts after hitting the game winning shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Clippers 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Jarrett Jack (0) reacts after hitting the game winning shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Clippers 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

8 Points, 9 Seconds (Indiana Pacers)

Indiana sends C.J. Watson and Chris Copeland to Brooklyn for Jarrett Jack

If the Indiana Pacers make a trade before the deadline, it will probably look something like this. It will be a deal that flies under the radar and doesn’t substantially alter the makeup of the roster or the salary cap. Larry Bird recently stated that he still wants this team to make the playoffs, and while the Pacers face an uphill battle to do so, getting to the postseason will remain the franchise’s goal until it become unfeasible.

This move would help.

With the starters now healthy for the first time all season, Bird will want to add something to the bench. Jarrett Jack may not be a marquee addition, but at this point he would likely be an upgrade over C.J. Watson, who shot just 38.6% in January and has been hobbled with foot injuries that are expected to linger until the offseason. As for Chris Copeland, he has seemingly fallen out of the rotation anyway.

For more Indiana Pacers, head over to eightpointsnineseconds.com!
For more Indiana Pacers, head over to 8points9seconds.com! /

Jack may not be a world beater, but he is an experienced professional who can shoot, play steady point guard for a reserve unit, defend his position, and put up a nice scoring game once in awhile.

For the Brooklyn Nets, the motivation is simple: Watson and Copeland are both on expiring contracts while Jack has one year left for $6 million. They are in cost-cutting mode now, so getting out from under any future salary should entice them to make the move.

While that extra guaranteed year, in theory, might be prohibitive to the Pacers as well, they may also see it as a positive. Presuming David West and Roy Hibbert both pick up their player options this summer (a likely outcome), Bird will want to have a final year of his Paul George/Hibbert/West/George Hill nucleus to make a run at the NBA Finals.

If Jack can fit in right away, he can help this year and become the bench-unit leader Indiana wants next season. Yes, the $6 million isn’t ideal, but the team won’t be much of a player in the free-agent market anyway. And the front office knows Jack — he played one season in Indiana in 2008-09 — so the team would know what it is getting and be confident that the 31-year-old will fit with the team’s goals over the next year and a half.

Next: Golden State gets a champion

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