The Indiana Pacers could use another piece before the NBA trade deadline and the Milwaukee Bucks have made point guard Michael Carter-Williams available. Larry Bird should try to acquire Williams before the deadline.
Obviously there is a very good possibility that the Pacers stand pat at the trade deadline. That being said, if they want to make a run at serious contention in the Eastern Conference, Carter-Williams would be the move to make. He would be a long-term piece as well, although his consistency issues could be a bit of a concern for the Pacers.
Throughout the 2015-16 season thus far, Carter-Williams has played in 46 games and has started in 36 of them. He has averaged 11.5 points, 5.6 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. Carter-Williams has shot 45.3 percent of his attempts and has knocked down 31.7 percent of his three-point shots.
At just 24 years old, Carter-Williams still has a lot of time to imrpove and reach his full potential.
George Hill has done a solid job at the point guard position this season, but may not be the long-term fit that the Pacers would like. Carter-Williams still has two years left on his deal following this season.
Indiana has put together a very talented team, but adding a young point guard like Carter-Williams to the table would help complete their long-term lineup. He would fit very nicely alongside of Paul George and Myles Turner in the long run.
Frank Vogel has been needing a point guard who is more capable of running an offense than Hill. Carter-Williams may not be the best point guard in the NBA, but he would be a much better fit for the Pacers. Acquiring Carter-Williams also would help the Pacers cut down on their payroll if Hill was included in the deal.
Looking ahead at the trade deadline, there is likely to be a good amount of rumors swirling. There are a few teams looking to deal and there are a few teams that must buy in order to compete in their conference playoffs.
Expect to hear the Pacers mentioned in rumors as the deadline continues to approach. They may not pull the trigger on any trades, but Bird should strongly consider acquiring a piece like Carter-Williams.
