Indiana
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.
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
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.
The article from Pincus can be found here, and Swartz’s piece is here.
Indiana basketball practice observations from June 25: Freshmen mixing in
IU has a game-changer, Thursday’s practice open to the media showed. IndyStar IU insider Zach Osterman explains what he saw.
BLOOMINGTON — Whatever he can.
That’s the answer. The question — one prompted by an urgency to add strength to his game — is what Vaughn Karvala, Indiana basketball’s athletic freshman wing, is doing to add weight. IU’s highest-ranked signee in the 2026 class, it’s not hard to envision a role for Karvala in Darian DeVries’ second season in Bloomington. The player himself knows that starts with meeting the physical demands of the college game.
Which starts with building onto to his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame.
“The biggest thing for me is just putting on weight,” Karvala told reporters after practice Thursday. “That’s my biggest thing, getting stronger, trying to play with these guys that are three, four years older than me. I have to get stronger, I have to get faster, everything.”
A three-year letter winner at Oregon (Wisconsin) High School, Karvala spent his senior season at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona, bolstering a profile that saw him ranked No. 62 nationally per the 247Sports Composite.
Karvala averaged 26.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his final season with Oregon, shooting close to 42% from behind the 3-point line. He averaged another 14.7 points per game with Team Herro on the EYBL circuit.
He handed DeVries a major recruiting win last fall, when Karvala picked the Hoosiers over Xavier and Cal. Now, both at the rim and behind the arc, Karvala looks like a player who can contribute meaningfully in his first year in college.
“I know my athleticism catches the eye, but I can still shoot it,” Karvala said. “But another thing is just working on rebounding, trying to get extra possessions for us.”
Whether on the glass or elsewhere, embracing the physical challenge of college basketball has been an emphasis for Karvala since he arrived in Bloomington earlier this summer.
That manifests itself offensively, when he tries to push the ball downhill and leverage that athleticism to attack the rim. It shows up defensively, where Karvala said he’s comfortable guarding the two, the three and, matchup depending, the four.
It even plays out on the glass, battling bigs up to including 7-2 teammate Samet Yigitoglu, who Karvala described with a smile as “the biggest guy I’ve ever seen.”
“Physicality, 100%,” Karvala said, when asked where he’s challenging himself. “Just playing with all these guys that have 20, 30, 40 pounds on me.”
Which starts with the physical demand of more weight. Karvala said he’ll eat chicken, steak or “whatever we have in the locker room” that can help him in that effort. His focus, he said, is simply to “eat a lot, and work out every day.”
As that weight and strength begin to build, Karvala knows the next step — to mentally prepare for the rough-and-tumble nature of life on the floor in the Big Ten — is just as important. Preparing his body comes first. Challenging himself to toughen up once it’s required follows quickly after.
“Just getting fully there, mentally,” he said. “You’re going to have to push your body to get through this.”
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KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — It’s fair season and a new law uncorks adult beverage sales!
The new Indiana law will go into effect July 1st, making it legal to sell alcohol at county fairs.
The Kosciusko County Fair is set to kick off in just a few weeks and Indiana is officially allowing alcohol to be sold.
The law is bringing back something that’s not necessarily new to this fair.
Here’s what you need to know
The new law will go into effect on July 1st. It officially allows county fairs to apply for fee-free permits to sell alcohol.
Officials with the Kosciusko County Fair say they are participating this year. They are implementing the same guidelines they used when they sold alcohol just at grandstand events.
The difference now is, you can walk around the grounds with your drink. But strict guidelines will be in place for purchasing a drink.
“Actually, we’ve never had any issues. Because we card everybody, so we take that seriously. We also got the ID guides so we can identify the different types of IDs,” said Sheal Dirck, Treasurer of Kosciusko County Fair.
The Kosciusko County Fair already have guidelines in place, so this was an easy transition for the fair.
They will be the only vendors selling alcohol, which will make it easier to control distribution.
The sales will also bring in more revenue.
“Hopefully it allows to keep our ticket prices where they are because right now, insurance, utilities and everything else is going sky high and it’s hard to make ends meet,” said Dirck.
However, some fairs cannot participate because of the July 1st start date, like the Pulaski County Fair, which is going on right now. Pulaski County officials said it is on the agenda for next year. Whereas other fairs are choosing to sit this year out.
“We wanted not spend some time to, to see what that really means for us. It was not a decision we wanted to rush into. But we are happy for the option of it,” said Shelly Steury, GM of Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds.
Leaders at the St. Joseph County and Elkhart County Fairs said neither of them are selling alcohol.
The Kosciusko County Fair is the only fair that will sell alcohol in our area this year.
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