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Pacers Forward Named Player to Trade This Season
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- Pacers Forward Named Player to Trade This Season
(Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
The Indiana Pacers will be entering the new NBA season with a lot to prove after a tough 2025-26 season.
Indiana was able to win just 19 games a year ago, a far cry from where the team was the previous season. Much of this had to do with star guard Tyrese Haliburton missing the year due to a torn Achilles
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But Haliburton is now back, ready to help get the Pacers back to a place of contention this season. If Haliburton is healthy , as he says he is, the sky could be the limit for the Pacers this season.
The veteran played in his first preseason game recently , looking good in his first game action since the injury. Haliburton is the key to this team, but it's all the other role players alongside him who will make or break Indiana this year.
The Pacers come into the season with strong depth, surrounding Haliburton with quality shooters and defenders. But Indiana may not be able to put everyone into the rotation throughout the year, and this could see them try to move some players out.
NBA analyst Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report listed one player from every team that should be traded this season, and for the Pacers, forward Ben Sheppard was named.
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Sheppard has been a valuable piece to the Pacers throughout his few years in the league, but there may not be enough playing time for him.
The forward has shown promise as a three-and-D wing for Indiana, but the Pacers could elect to move him for some future pieces. Since the Pacers have multiple other players who can fit the role, Sheppard could end up becoming the odd man out.
But Indiana has also liked what they have seen from Sheppard, and this could keep him in town. Last season, Sheppard averaged 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, seeing 21.4 minutes per contest.
Sometimes players can't fully break out until they go to another system that can offer them the playing time that they need. But Sheppard has seemed to be content playing for the Pacers, using the style of play to his advantage.
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With Indiana liking to run up and down the court, Sheppard has thrived in being a knockdown shooter for this team. Sheppard has increased his three-point shooting each season in the NBA, with him getting up to 36.2 percent last year.
Sheppard has been a solid player for Indiana over his career, but sometimes teams can't keep everyone around. It remains to be seen, but for now Sheppard will try to help this group get back to the NBA Finals.
