Indiana Pacers: Best and worst moves from 2023 NBA offseason

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 20: Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after making a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game three of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 20: Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after making a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game three of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Worst offseason moves Indiana Pacers made

The difficulty in taking the next step for any rebuilding team is knowing when and what moves to make in an attempt to break through out of the status quo. That’s exactly what the Indiana Pacers went through this summer. And there were at least two head-scratching moves made by the team.

Not trading Buddy Hield

The first concerning move of the offseason included the Pacers not trading Buddy Hield. With the signing of Bruce Brown and the continued emergence of Bennedict Mathurin, this was probably the right time for a Hield trade. That didn’t exactly happen.

Instead, the decision to not trade Hield will bring about another issue for Indiana, which is linked to another move they made this summer.

Signing Bruce Brown to be a backup 

Under the assumption that Mathurin and Hield will be the starters heading into the season, it makes the signing of Bruce Brown that much more confusing. The Pacers are paying Brown $20 million per season to come off the bench? That doesn’t exactly make a ton of sense.

Of course, trading Hield would solve a lot of their problems. Would they do it, that’s the question.