The Indiana Pacers are facing an urgent need to make a trade before the NBA Trade Deadline in February. The team’s struggles this season have been largely due to a lack of depth at center. After losing backup centers James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to Achilles injuries, the Pacers now rank as the third-worst team in the league in rebounding. With Myles Turner as the only healthy true center left on the roster, the Pacers are left in a difficult position, as Turner’s career average of 6.8 rebounds per game is simply not enough to address their rebounding issues.
Given their current deficiencies, the Pacers have been linked to several potential trade targets, including backup centers and even a few established starters. However, recent reports suggest that the team might have their eyes set on a more ambitious move. Instead of merely adding depth behind Turner, reports from *The Sporting News* and *The Wright Way Network* indicate that the Pacers could be exploring a blockbuster trade to acquire Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. This move would not only solve their rebounding woes but also significantly elevate their overall roster.
Joel Embiid, the reigning 2023 NBA MVP, is a two-time scoring champion and one of the league’s best rebounders. Although he has only played in one game this season due to a knee injury, in which he scored 13 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, his track record speaks for itself. Embiid’s presence on the court would give the Pacers a true superstar to build around, complementing their existing core of young players.
For the Pacers, landing Embiid would mean more than just bolstering their center position—it would immediately make them serious title contenders. If the Pacers can keep key players like Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Bennedict Mathurin, Embiid would elevate the team’s chances of competing for a championship in the near future. His scoring, rebounding, and defensive abilities would give Indiana a much-needed boost as they look to make a playoff push.
While trading for Embiid would undoubtedly require significant assets, including Turner and potentially other valuable pieces, it could be a move worth making for the Pacers. With the team struggling in the rebounding department and sitting in a highly competitive Eastern Conference, adding an MVP-caliber player like Embiid could transform Indiana into a formidable playoff contender, once he returns to full health.
