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Reviewing Bleacher Report trade ideas involving Indiana Pacers before 2024 training camp

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Reviewing Bleacher Report trade ideas involving Indiana Pacers before 2024 training camp


Most NBA teams begin training camp ahead of the 2024 NBA season next week, and while this time of year isn’t usually one that features transactions, movement can happen just before media day. Last year, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to acquire Damian Lillard in late September. This year, the New York Knicks are reportedly close to dealing for Karl-Anthony Towns.

If the time is right for a transaction, then the time is right. In that spirit, Bleacher Report suggested a few trades involving the Indiana Pacers recently. They deserve a closer look.

Indiana Pacers receive: Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic receive: Dorian Finney-Smith and Isaiah Jackson, Brooklyn Nets receive: Jarace Walker, Caleb Houstan

For this trade, which was created by author Eric Pincus, the Nets need to send something to Indiana for it to be legal. But the general framework is the important part here.

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The gist, Pincus writes, is that the Pacers would get an effective and cost-controller backup center behind Myles Turner in Carter Jr. The current Orlando big man has two more years left on his contract at a more than fair value, and the blue and gold have some questions to answer at the center position thanks to Jackson and Turner having expiring contracts.

Thus, the theory could be that Carter Jr. would be a backup in the coming season and then possibly a starter in the following year. The problem is that the Pacers front office already shared that they hope to keep Turner, and giving up Walker after just one season for a reserve doesn’t make much sense.

Walker was the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. While there hasn’t been much time for him to play for the blue and gold yet, his potential and size at an important position make him a player worth investing in. That player archetype isn’t one that should be passed on for a backup big man.

While the theory of the Pacers acquiring Carter Jr. to get stability at the center spot going forward makes sense, doing so at the cost of Walker and Jackson (another young player who will be the backup this year) isn’t worth it for the blue and gold.

The Indiana Pacers should keep Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard

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A piece written by author Greg Swartz opines what every team in the league, including the Pacers, should do with their best trade assets. For Indiana, said assets are listed as Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Myles Turner.

Swartz believes that the Pacers should hold on to Nembhard since he is on a contract that will age nicely. The young guard signed a three-year, $58.7 million extension this summer, and including the upcoming season, he is now playing on (effectively) a four-year, $60.7 million deal. That’s a steal for a starter who can impact the game on both ends, and the tax-conscious Pacers would be smart to keep him.

Mathurin could be a valuable trade chip, but if he grows into the player that his peaks suggest he could be, he would be immensely valuable. The young guard is a terrific scorer heading into his third season, and he had many important realizations about what the next steps are for his career last season. Indiana shouldn’t give up on him early, and Swartz says the Pacers should listen to trade calls for the young guard yet have no reason to move him.

Turner is in a contract year, which could force the Pacers to at least think about his future. Swartz says the Pacers should hear offers if contract talks hit a gap. But the front office already expressed their desire to keep Turner, and he’s a perfect fit next to Indiana’s current stars in Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton. iIndiana should look to keep him.

All three players would be valuable in any deals, and for the right price any player could be moved. But without more information about the team’s direction and the quality of their young talent, Indiana shouldn’t make any trades involving these three.

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The article from Pincus can be found here, and Swartz’s piece is here.



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Live updates: Indiana vs. Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal

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Live updates: Indiana vs. Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal


Atlanta will host a top-five Big Ten rematch in the Peach Bowl on Friday. No. 1 Indiana will take on No. 5 Oregon in a semifinal of the College Football Playoff for a chance to compete for a national championship. The Hoosiers won the regular-season matchup 30-20. This is the fifth all-time meeting between the teams, with the series tied 2-2.

Both defenses have proved stout, making the offenses the biggest determining factor in this game. Indiana is second in scoring defense, while Oregon is close behind at sixth. The Hoosiers have the advantage on the line, giving up the third-fewest rushing yards in the nation. Oregon, however, has the edge in the air, allowing the ninth-fewest passing yards. The Ducks also pitched a shutout in the Orange Bowl against Texas Tech.

The Hoosiers didn’t skip a beat on offense, handing Alabama its first 30-point loss this side of the new millennium. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was highly efficient, going 14-of-16 with three touchdowns and no interceptions. That efficiency has helped Indiana earn the top seed; the Hoosiers have committed the fewest penalties of any CFP team and have the fourth-fewest penalty yards in the nation.

Oregon, meanwhile, struggled to score for most of its quarterfinal matchup against Texas Tech. The Ducks didn’t reach the end zone until 11:20 remained in the third quarter and rushed for just 64 yards. Dante Moore threw for 234 yards but had no touchdowns, an interception and minus-12 rushing yards due to constant pressure.

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Indiana is the favorite, but Oregon has been one of the strongest units in the country, with its lone loss coming against the Hoosiers. Will the Ducks learn from their earlier mistakes, or will Indiana continue one of the most dominant runs of the CFP era?



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Rematch history in CFP and BCS favors Oregon vs. Indiana in Peach Bowl

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Rematch history in CFP and BCS favors Oregon vs. Indiana in Peach Bowl


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The College Football Playoff national semifinal at the Peach Bowl marks a rematch of No. 1 seed Indiana’s 30-20 win against No. 5 Oregon in October, the first of several results this year that have left the Hoosiers knocking on the door of a historic and unbeaten season.

With two more wins, Indiana would become the first 16-0 national champion since Yale in 1894. But in order to make history, the Hoosiers will need to reverse some recent history.

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Since the 1996 season, there have been seven regular-season rematches in the College Football Playoff and in national championship games played under the two previous postseason formats, the Bowl Championship Series and the Bowl Alliance. Four of these pairings have occurred since the playoff expanded last season.

Surprisingly, all but one of these games have seen the loser from the regular season rebound to win the rematch. This could be a coincidence. At a minimum, though, this trend shows the difficulties in defeating an elite opponent twice in under a four-month span.

The Hoosiers look to buck that recent history. Here’s a look back at these rematches and what they might suggest about the Peach Bowl:

Ole Miss vs. Georgia, 2025

Results: Georgia 43-35, Ole Miss 39-34.

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Ole Miss led Georgia in the second half when the two met in October but coughed up a lead for its one and only loss on the year. The two SEC rivals met again in the Sugar Bowl earlier this month, with the Rebels pulling out the win on a late field goal. Unlike during the regular season, Ole Miss landed a big game from Trinidad Chambliss and did much better running the ball, indicating how teams can strategize by looking back and evaluating the previous matchup.

Ole Miss vs. Tulane, 2025

Results: Ole Miss 45-10, Ole Miss 41-10.

Here’s the one outlier. The Rebels stampeded over Tulane at home in September and then did the same in the opening round. The one difference: Lane Kiffin was the head coach for the first game and Pete Golding for the second. In this case, a significant edge in talent was the biggest factor in helping Ole Miss defy recent history.

Oklahoma vs. Alabama, 2025

Results: Oklahoma 23-21, Alabama 34-24.

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Again, an SEC rematch that reversed the regular-season result. Oklahoma’s win in November sparked its run to the playoff. That seemed to carry over to the opening round, when the Sooners stormed out to a 17-0 lead. But the Tide crawled back to tie for the biggest comeback in playoff history.

Oregon vs. Ohio State, 2024

Results: Oregon 32-31, Ohio State 41-21.

Oregon narrowly pulled out the win in Autzen Stadium and then went on to post a perfect regular season, earning the top seed in the debut of the expanded playoff. But in the Rose Bowl the Ducks ran into a buzzsaw in the Buckeyes, who stormed out to a 34-0 late in the second quarter and won going away. A year later, Oregon hopes to follow Ohio State’s blueprint and score the upset against the unbeaten Big Ten champs.

Alabama vs. Georgia, 2021

Results: Alabama 42-24, Georgia 33-18.

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The Tide knocked off then-unbeaten Georgia in the SEC championship game behind 421 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Bryce Young. That landed Alabama in the four-team playoff as the No. 1 seed, while Georgia slotted in at No. 3. The pair met in the championship game after beating Cincinnati and Michigan, respectively, and the Bulldogs would hold Young to 6.5 yards per throw and make two picks to take the first of back-to-back titles.

LSU vs. Alabama, 2011

Results: LSU 9-6, Alabama 21-0

The Tigers’ overtime win during the regular season was about as ugly as the score suggests with five field goals being the only scores. The rematch in the title game about two months later wasn’t any better. Alabama’s defense barely allowed LSU to cross midfield in this second meeting to win the second of Nick Saban’s six titles in Tuscaloosa.

Results: Florida State 24-21, Florida 52-20.

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No other rematch has come within such a short time frame. FSU topped Florida on Nov. 30 to end the regular season and drew the immediate rematch in the Sugar Bowl, which was designated as the championship game in the Bowl Alliance format, because then-No. 2 Arizona State was obligated to face No. 4 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. This time, Steve Spurrier’s Gators bombarded the Seminoles to capture the first national title in program history with the Sun Devils falling to the Buckeyes.



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Peach Bowl Ticket Prices Skyrocket Ahead of Oregon and Indiana Rematch

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Peach Bowl Ticket Prices Skyrocket Ahead of Oregon and Indiana Rematch


As the No. 5 Oregon Ducks prepare to face off against the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers with a bid to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on the line, ticket prices for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Mercedez-Benz Stadium have increased.

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Though Duck fans were outnumbered in the previous playoff quarterfinal against Texas Tech at the Orange Bowl in Miami, a Big Ten rematch might drum up more fans wearing green at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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That increase in visiting fans, plus the importance of this game, can be seen through the surging prices for tickets on event websites.

The field is set during a media day as the Oregon Ducks arrive on Jan. 7, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Current Prices for Peach Bowl Tickets

The cheapest tickets to get into the Peach Bowl start at standing room only, with a $166.50 price from Ticketmaster and a $178 price on StubHub.

This total for standing room has decreased since allotment tickets sold out on Monday, with Oregon Ducks on Sports Illustrated reporting $184 for standing-room only on StubHub.

Seats behind both teams’ benches have almost the same amount of seats still open, with the cheapest ticket behind the Ducks’ bench sit around the club 130 section in row 34 for $628.32 on StubHub. Ticketmaster has a $638 price tag per ticket in the same section a few rows up, which the website states is discounted from an over $1,000 original resale listing.

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The most affordable sections according to both websites is the upper decks with sections 342 through 350 on the Oregon bench side selling in the $250-$300 range a piece. The highest-priced ticket, according to Ticketmaster, sits on the side of the Indiana bench in section 110 in the club, with a price of $4,760. However, there are several club level tickets with price tags well over a grand.

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The Peach Bowl trophy is seen Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, during media day ahead of the College football play off Peach Bowl game against the Oregon Ducks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon’s Ticket Allotment Sold Out Early

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At the beginning of the week, the allotted tickets for Oregon fans to the Peach Bowl had officially sold out through the Oregon Athletic Department. According to the Peach Bowl, this is the 26th time the game has sold out of initial ticket inventory in it’s last 29 kickoffs.

MORE: Oregon Fans Won’t Like Dante Moore’s New Projected NFL Team

MORE: Oregon Ducks’ Peach Bowl Uniforms Make History

MORE: Oregon Ducks Get Jay Harris Update From New Injury Report

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The Oregon end zone is painted during a media day as the Oregon Ducks arrive on Jan. 7, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Comparing Peach Bowl Tickets to Oregon’s Other Playoff Games

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In terms of ticket prices, the Peach Bowl turnout likely will become the most expensive postseason game for Oregon this season. For the Orange Bowl in Miami, Vivid Seats reported that the get-in price dropped to $39 a ticket.

The Oregon crowd for that showdown was roughly 25 percent compared to 75 percent Texas Tech fans, with many empty seats seen throughout Hard Rock Stadium. Furthermore, the lowest cost for tickets in terms of Oregon’s first round playoff game against James Madison at Autzen Stadium also reached around $50 with only a few hours before kickoff.

The Hoosiers and the Ducks will kickoff at 4:30 p.m. PT from Mercedenz-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

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