NBA Rumors: Pacers, Suns Talking Trade

Last year right around this time, the Indiana Pacers caused havoc in the desert, by dropping an offer sheet on Phoenix Suns' center Deandre Ayton. The Suns eventually matched, Ayton has been miserable ever since, and the Pacers would later in the season sign their own center, Myles Turner to an extension. 

Now the two teams are linked once again this summer, as a report from Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports says the two teams are considering a guard swap.

The Pacers have been mentioned in another possible trade discussion this week. Phoenix has continued to explore trade scenarios regarding reserve guard Cam Payne, league sources told Yahoo Sports, and Indiana point guard T.J. McConnell has been one player on the Suns’ radar.

The Suns are looking for trusted veterans to add to their core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal (and Ayton, if he's not dealt), and McConnell has always been a solid distributor in a backup role. In eight NBA seasons, he's averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 assists with just 1.6 turnovers. 

Payne will be going into the last year of his contract, at $6.5M, and although he's produced when asked to, averaging 10.3 points and 4.5 assists this past season, he just hasn't been able to stay healthy in Phoenix. This year, he played just 48 games, and the season before, just 58. McConnell has played 70 or more games in seven of his eight seasons in the NBA.

Payne has also struggled in the playoffs with the Suns, averaging just 7.5 points and 2.8 assists in 42 postseason games over three campaigns. 

 

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