NBA Rumors: 5 trade destinations for Victor Oladipo

The Indiana Pacers are going to get back into the Eastern Conference Playoffs this season for two reasons: Paul George is a superstar at forward for them and Frank Vogel is a fantastic defensive coach. However, the small ball Pacers aren’t exactly a huge threat to orchestrate a deep playoff run in 2016, as they aren’t able to dictate pace as well as they did when Roy Hibbert and David West starred in their massive frontcourt.

Not that this deal would make the Pacers Eastern Conference Finals caliber in 2016, but deciding to make a trade for the Orlando Magic’s Victor Oladipo could serve as the missing piece to the Pacers’ puzzle going forward. In theory, Oladipo could become the proper replacement the club is looking for after letting shooting guard Lance Stephenson leave after the 2013-14 NBA season.

Either Monta Ellis, George Hill, or Rodney Stuckey would have to go to Orlando to make the trade work. Perhaps Orlando would like the veteran presence of anyone of the Pacers’ three available backcourt players? Ellis is a go-to scorer, so is Stuckey at times, and Hill would help the Magic at point guard for head coach Scott Skiles.

The Pacers are likely not going to look to upgrade their frontcourt this season, as the front office will want to ride out the small ball era in Indianapolis for at least the rest of the 2015-16 NBA season and Eastern Conference Playoffs.

However, the thought of getting a high-energy player like Oladipo that has a higher ceiling than did Stephenson could fill a void the Pacers’ offense has lacked the last two seasons. Indiana is still probably a year away from Eastern Conference Finals contention, but acquiring Oladipo before the end of the year could stand as a good jumping off point for the Pacers in 2016.