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Update: The Pacers confirmed the deal on Jan. 16 as follows: “The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday they acquired Caris LeVert and cash considerations from the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team trade that sent Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets. As part of the deal, the Pacers also received a future second round draft pick from Houston and a future second round draft pick from Cleveland.”
The Indiana Pacers have unloaded star guard Victor Oladipo as part of a complicated four-team mega-deal that will send Brooklyn Nets small forward Caris LeVert to Indianapolis in return, according to multiple media reports.
The Pacers also get a second-round draft pick in the deal.
In sending 28-year-old Oladipo to the Houston Rockets, the Pacers have jettisoned a high-priced former All-Star with a contract that expires at the end of the season. LeVert is under contract through the 2022-23 season.
Considered a budding star in the NBA, the 26-year-old LeVert is averaging 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6 assists so far this season. Oladipo, who has worked his way back to form after a debilitating knee injury in 2019, is averaging 20 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
LeVert’s size (6-foot-6), versatility and athleticism would seem to be a good fit for the new, more flexible system installed by first-year Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren.
He also can provide scoring punch in the absence of injured small forward T.J. Warren. LeVert scored 43 points on Saturday in a Nets loss to the Grizzlies.
After months of trade speculation, the Nets have agreed to acquire James Harden from the Rockets in the blockbuster trade that put Oladipo and LeVert in play, as well as several other players, four first-round picks and four pick swaps.
In Brooklyn, Harden will reunite with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant as well as Kyrie Irving to lead one of the East’s top contenders. The agreement ends a tumultuous few months for Harden and the Rockets, whose nine-year marriage produced eight playoff trips and two berths in the Western Conference finals.
The Nets will reportedly send Rodion Kurucs, first-round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026 and swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027 to Houston. Brooklyn will also reportedly send center Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who will send Dante Exum and a 2022 first-round pick to the Rockets.
This story will be updated.
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Well, there goes the team again.
Vic hasn’t looked engaged for some time. This is a great trade for the Pacers. Ironically we traded LeVert for Thaddeus Young his rookie year
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Good riddance! He hadn’t come out to say he was interested in staying with the Pacers so why waste losing him for nothing if he left as a free agent. Let the Rockets pay him $30 million plus next year and beyond and see what kind of production they get. We get a young player with similar stats that opens up salary cap room for next season. Great Trade!
Fantastic trade. LeVert will be great with the Pacers.
Good move!
Appears to be a great move!
Wow!
Smart move by the Pacers
It’s about time. Vic has turned into Paul George since he returned from his injury. He forgot the game wasn’t all about him. Let’s move on.
I’m liking this move.
Sad to see Vic traded.
Sad to see Victor go, and I think in time he’ll regret it – no other fan base will ever love him the way he’s loved here. They said, this trade makes sense for so many reasons. LeVert can score but doesn’t have to have the ball all the time. And he should be available every game, as opposed to Oladipo who wasn’t able to play the second half of back-to-backs. He should be a nice addition to the team.
Oladipo is a joke. Good riddance.
Excellent! Would have loved to see the old Vic stick around, but I’m not loving the post surgery Vic. I will make this prediction: He will not be any happier somewhere else. There are a lot of mega stars in this game and he will find out who will tolerate his new found ego.
What happened to the local hero and this is “our house” LOL. Anyone emotionally invested in the NBA is a simp
Especially any fan who was emotionally invested in Oladipo.