The trade deadline the last couple of years has been pretty boring, with not many big name players getting dealed. This years deadline looked like it was going to be the same until about 5 minutes AFTER the deadline.
The Indiana Pacers traded small-forward Danny Granger to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen. I can honestly say I don’t think anyone saw this trade coming.
Danny Granger missed last season with an injury, and, prior to this past December, had only played 5 games for Indiana in the last 2 years. Nevertheless, the Pacers stayed faithful to their 9th year fan favorite. Granger has only averaged 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game over this season in 22 minutes per game. Not too great for the 1 time all-star. People throughout the league have been talking all year on whether he’ll come back to form or not, but I guess we’ll have to figure that out with him in a Philadelphia uniform now.
Evan Turner is the main part of this deal for Indiana. Turner is averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game this season for the Sixers in 35 minutes per game. For the Pacers, he could be a great lift off the bench, coming in as a backup for Paul George. Most of the teams in the NBA would kill for a 17 PPG bench player, ESPECIALLY at this time of the season in the Eastern Conference. Lavoy Allen is also going to the Pacers in this deal. He is averaged 5 points, 5 rebounds, & 1 assist per game so far in limited minutes. I think Lavoy Allen could be a solid backup for David West come playoff time, but Evan Turner makes this deal. I believe that Turner could give the Pacers that 1 extra piece that they need to seal 1st place in the Eastern Conference and take down the reigning champion Miami Heat.
Watch out, America, because the Pacers are leading the Eastern Conference, and I don’t think anyone, even the Heat, will stop them.
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