Indiana Pacers Eyeing Trade For Utah Jazz Big Man

The Indiana Pacers have been on an incredible run over the past two seasons, making the NBA Finals in 2024/25, although they would come up short against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unfortunately, in coming up short, the team lost star guard Tyrese Haliburton, leading into the summer in which stretch five Myles Turner departed the organization after a decade.

Now, as a result, they're off to a very slow start with a 6-18 record through their first 24 games, with many believing that they won't be a playoff threat in 2025/26 even in a weakened Eastern Conference. However, that doesn't mean that they can't look to the future, as they are now reportedly eyeing a replacement for Turner, with the team showing immense interest in Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler.

They aren't the only team to be interested in Kessler in recent years, but to this point, Danny Ainge has shown an unwillingness to move him, putting a way, way richer price on him than many believe he has earned. 

In Kessler however, the Pacers would get a big shot blocking presence down low, and while he's only appeared in five games this season, in that time he's averaged a very solid 14.4 points per game. At this point, it's more likely than not that Utah will hold onto Kessler, but if the Pacers see him as a key piece of their team moving forward alongside Haliburton, Pascal Siakham and others, don't be shocked to see them be aggressive in pursuit of him.