Indiana Pacers: 3 best and worst transactions in team history

Taking a closer look at the three best and worst transactions in team history for the Indiana Pacers.

Throughout a franchise’s history, every team will have good and bad transactions. Some transactions will work out better than a team could have ever imagined. Other transactions will make the fan base want the owner to sell the team.

When a player comes to a new team there is no way to know how that player will mesh with the rest of the team. Sometimes they fit in right away and other times they can destroy the chemistry of the team. With all of that being said, here are the top three best and worst transactions in the history of the Indiana Pacers.

Best: Trading Paul George for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis

Paul George shocked the Pacers’ fan base when he requested a trade from the organization.  Shortly after, it became obvious that George did not get along with some of the front office people and he wanted to be in his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. Luckily, for the Pacers, they did not grant his wish to move to L.A. Instead they sent him to another small-market team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

This trade was mocked by most “experts” and fans around the NBA, but they spoke way too soon. Oladipo and Sabonis bought into the culture of the Pacers immediately. The Pacers were projected to be under .500 but ended up winning 48 games.

They took the Cleveland Cavaliers to a seven-game series (that they could have won) when most people expected a sweep. Oladipo has become the Pacers go-to player and is now a two-time All-Star, while Domantas Sabonis is a double-double machine that was awarded his first All-Star appearance this season. If you look back, this trade was one of the biggest wins in Pacers’ history. Paul George forced his way out of Indiana and Oklahoma City and the Pacers got two All-Stars in return.