Indiana
Pacers Predicted to Part With Obi Toppin For $70M Guard
The Indiana Pacers have some work to do if they want to be seen as legitimate title contenders.
With a pair of routs during the NBA Paris Games — losing by 30 and two days later winning by 38 — the Pacers are now at 24-20 which is good for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.
At 8-2 in the last 10 matchups, the Pacers are certainly doing something right, but to compete with the top-tier of NBA talent come playoff time, a roster edit or two might be necessary.
More news: Kyle Kuzma Growing ‘Impatient’ With Wizards is Good News for Pacers
A name that has been thrown around is rotational piece Obi Toppin.
Continuing his solid play from last season, Toppin is putting up 10 points and four rebounds per game on 54 percent shooting during his second season in Indiana.
The 26-year-old has recently been predicted to get dealt before the Feb. 6 trade deadline in exchange for another bench piece.
More news: Pacers’ Rick Carlisle Says Paris Will Remember Tyrese Haliburton, Not Victor Wembanyama
Pacers receive: Grayson Allen
Suns receive: Obi Toppin
The Phoenix Suns are in a similar position to Indiana as they see themselves as contenders, despite being the No. 8 seed in a stacked Western Conference. This can be a mutually beneficial trade.
Allen is a three-point specialist leading the NBA in three-point percentage last year with a 46 percent average. Putting up 10.9 points per game, he can be a similar scoring presence to Toppin but with the ability to spread the floor in a more efficient way.
Indiana is also 20th in the league in total three-pointers made per game this season and would love to have a deep threat on the bench in Allen.
Although it would be hard to part ways with Toppin, making a trade now may be the best time to do it given his current value. Additionally, there are a lot of forwards on the Pacers roster, and making this trade gives more opportunity to others to get minutes while adding a piece that makes them more of a contender.
More news: Pacers Could Make Splash in East With Trade For Multi-Time All-Star Pacers Rumors: Myles Turner Contract Situation Could Be Big Problem For Indiana Pacers Could Land $125M Forward Before Trade Deadline
Indiana
Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police say one “young man” is dead after a shooting at the 1200 block of Rue Rabelais at about 7:19 p.m. according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
That is near the intersection of 56th Street and Binford Boulevard.
Police say the victim was taken to Riley Hospital where he later died. Investigators say they are still working to identify the victim.
There was no known information about a suspect. Police did say that they believe this is a targeted incident.
There was no other information immediately available.
This story has been updated with information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Indiana
Mother and boyfriend accused in death of 4-year-old boy found in closet
This story contains descriptions of distressing circumstances involving children.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A mother and her boyfriend were accused of causing the death of a 4-year-old-boy found dead in a basement closet on Monday.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Angel Lovely, 37, and Nicholas Bergdoll, 36, on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent causing death. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office by Friday had not filed formal charges.
A sibling found the 4-year-old dead on Monday, according to investigators. Lovely and Bergdoll were in the home at the time but told police they were asleep when he died.
Born premature with cerebral palsy, the 4-year old couldn’t walk, was nonverbal, and ate through a feeding tube. Lovely claimed she would rarely put the child in the closet, only “when he won’t stop screaming” or when she “needed a break.”
But when investigators interviewed Lovely’s three other children, they said that the boy “stays in the closet all day,” and that “mom locks him in the closet” and “does not pay attention to him.”
An exact cause of death hasn’t been determined, but the child was found with blood in his mouth. Lovely said he’d been aspirating.
One of Lovely’s children told investigators they heard the 4-year-old gagging but didn’t say anything because it wasn’t unusual.
A neighbor living on Monticello Drive, Michelle Johnson, told News 8, “It’s horrible. It breaks my heart.”
Johnson had seen the other children outside the home but never knew there was a boy in a wheelchair living there. She said if she suspected they were being neglected, she would have called police or the Indiana Department of Child Services.
“We’re supposed to be a village and raise kids together,” Johnson said. “That’s really heartbreaking.”
Bergdoll told police, according to the investigators’ report, that he didn’t agree with putting the child in the closet: “I am not going to tell her how to f****** raise her kids.”
“I’m sickened,” IMPD Public Information Officer Tommy Thompson told News 8 in an interview.
“Think about putting yourself in that situation. Every day, do you want to be in a closet? Locked up, no light?”
Court records show the Department of Child Services had removed the boy from Lovely’s care because of medical neglect, but she regained custody last year against DCS recommendations.
Thompson, the neighbor, hopes the tragedy can be an opportunity for others to speak up when they see a child who can’t speak up for themselves. “Maybe you’ve got to make that tough phone call. Reach out. The city has resources.”
Johnson wishes she would have known what was happening so she could have said something. “Children don’t have a voice and we’re supposed to be their voice.”
Help is available for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Below is a list of suggested resources, both national and local:
Indiana
Police arrest suspect in Westfield homicide
WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Police have arrested someone in connection to a homicide earlier this month in the Hamilton County city.
In a Friday night social media post, the Westfield Police Department announced the arrest but gave no details, including who was arrested or what preliminary charges the person may face.
“Due to the active nature of this case, limited details are available for release at this time,” the post said.
As WISHTV.com previously reported, James “Matt” Lushin, 47, was found dead shortly after 7:25 p.m. March 12 with trauma at his home in the 3900 block of Westfield Road, also known as State Road 32.
Social media posts from the scene showed police tape and emergency vehicles at a red brick house between Shady Nook Road and Gray Road.
Lushin’s obituary said the Kokomo native was a key partner with the real estate investment company, FLF Property. The obituary also said, “Matt was also a respected and accomplished member of the international poker community. He traveled the world competing in tournaments and built an impressive and successful career.”
Police have previously said the death was believed to be isolated, posing no ongoing threat.
Officials have not released a specific cause or manner of death.
-
Sports1 week agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
New Mexico7 days agoClovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured
-
Tennessee6 days agoTennessee Police Investigating Alleged Assault Involving ‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson
-
Technology7 days agoYouTube job scam text: How to spot it fast
-
Minneapolis, MN3 days agoBoy who shielded classmate during school shooting receives Medal of Honor
-
Science1 week agoRecord Heat Meets a Major Snow Drought Across the West
-
Politics1 week agoSchumer gambit fails as DHS shutdown hits 36 days and airport lines grow
-
Texas1 week agoHow to buy Houston vs. Texas A&M 2026 March Madness tickets