RealGM Basketball Wiretap

29 May 2023

• Pacers Exploring Trading Draft Picks For Veteran Players

  The Indiana Pacers didn't have any lottery luck and stayed with the seventh pick at the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery. Indiana now holds picks #7, #26 (via Cleveland) and #29 (via Boston) in next month's draft.

  That's for now, at least. The Pacers are exploring options of trading those picks for veteran talent. Indiana reportedly also did so ahead of the trade deadline in February.

  The Pacers signed Myles Turner to a renegotiation-and-extension deal, that sees him on the books for the next two seasons. Tyrese Haliburton has blossomed into an All-Star and the team has several other talented players on the roster. Indiana could be looking at getting back into playoff contention, following three years of missing out on the postseason.

• Tyrese Haliburton Will Represent Pacers At Lottery

  The Indiana Pacers will send Tyrese Haliburton as their on-stage representative at the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery.

  The Pacers have the seventh best odds of winning the lottery at 8.6 percent.

  Haliburton was an All-Star in his first full season with the Pacers.

  Haliburton and the Pacers can agree to a contract extension this offseason.

• Asking Price For Taking On Russell Westbrook Decreased Dramatically From Preseason To Deadline

  While the Los Angeles Lakers struggled in the first half of the season while keeping Russell Westbrook on their roster, the cost of trading him for players who could help them this season decreased dramatically closer to the trade deadline.

  Sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo that during the preseason both the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers indicated it would take two future first round picks for them to take on Westbrook and his $46.2 million salary.

  As the trade deadline approached, the Jazz informed the Lakers they were willing to accept just one first round pick for Westbrook while also including Jarred Vanderbilt.

  The Lakers were able to acquire Vanderbilt, D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley for Westbrook and a protected future first round pick. Westbrook was eventually bought out and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

• Pacers Sign Gabe York To Two-Way Contract

  The Indiana Pacers signed Gabe York to a two-way deal on Thursday.

  The 29-year-old averaged 21.4 points and 3.9 assists for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

  The Pacers now have 17 players on the roster.

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