Wednesday Windmill: Are the Indiana Pacers a healthy Victor Oladipo away from winning the East?

                                          (Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images) 


On Tuesday, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 105-102 at home, improving to 19-9 overall and 6th in the Eastern Conference. As has been a staple of theirs over the years, the Pacers have a pretty balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double figures: Malcolm Brogdon (19.1 points per game), T.J. Warren (17.8 points per game), Domantas Sabonis (17.7 points per game), Jeremy Lamb (14.6 points per game), and Myles Turner (11.1 points per game). When you have so many different weapons, you're a very difficult team to stop both at home and on the road.

That all said, the Pacers appear to be lacking at least one additional weapon, which is where Victor Oladipo comes in. Oladipo hasn't played all season due to a knee injury and it remains unclear when he'll return. His absence is nothing small as he averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game last season. He's their best player on paper.

The good news for the Pacers is that so far at least, they're playing really well without him. They're on pace to make the playoffs and are keeping themselves within striking distance of a top four seed in the East for when he returns. Assuming he does return this season and is able to play like his regular self, this Pacers team just might make a run at the Eastern Conference crown.

What makes Oladipo so good is that he's a complete two-way player. It's not just the points. It's the rebounding, the assists, and the steals. He does a little bit of everything and knows how to get it done on both ends of the floor. Guys like him are invaluable and truly make a difference on their teams. He's the kind of player every coach wishes that they had.

When talking about which teams could come out of the East this year, don't sleep on the Pacers. They're already one of the better teams in the league and are still awaiting the return of their best player. That should have everyone in the East on notice.

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Wednesday Windmill: Just how dangerous are the Indiana Pacers?

One team that seems to be flying under the radar is the red-hot Indiana Pacers, winners of 5 straight games and 8 of their last 10. Led by Victor Oladipo (19.6 points), the Pacers currently have a 25-12 record, putting them just two games back of the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference. In an Eastern Conference that is wide open, this Pacers team needs to be taken seriously as a legitimate contender to reach the NBA Finals.

What makes the Pacers so dangerous is their depth. While Oladipo is their feature player, he has plenty of help around him in guys like Bojan Bogdanovic (16.2 points on 45.7% shooting from 3-point range), Domantas Sabonis (14.6 points & 9.6 rebounds), Myles Turner (13.1 points & 7.3 rebounds), Thaddeus Young (12.1 points & 5.8 rebounds), and Tyreke Evans  (10.5 points). With this depth, the Pacers have the shooters to keep perimeter defenders on their toes and the size up front to bang down low.

The biggest question with this team is whether or not they have a legitimate go-to player in the clutch. It's one thing to have guys who you can go to in the regular season, but it's another to have a guy who you can count on to make a key play in the playoffs. When you look at the rest of the Eastern Conference contenders, it's clear who the go-to players are. The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Raptors have Kawhi Leonard, the 76ers have Joel Embiid, and the Celtics have Kyrie Irving. While the Pacers can say they have Oladipo, I wouldn't put him in the same league as those other players. At least not yet.

If Oladipo can prove his worth as a legitimate franchise player and show that he's not afraid to step up in the playoffs, then the Pacers have a real chance to go the distance. They have the depth and the versatility to do so. As an added bonus, they have a killer fan base that comes out in droves to support their Pacers come playoff time.

At the moment, I'm not yet sure who to pick to win the Eastern Conference title given that the 76ers and Celtics are underperforming and the Bucks and Raptors are yet to prove they can go deep in the playoffs. With that in mind, I don't see why the Pacers should be excluded from the discussion. They're playing great basketball and have all the pieces to be a nightmare matchup for whoever they face in the playoffs. It's been a while since the Pacers were in the NBA Finals, but I have a feeling this just might be the year that they finally get back.

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Skyhook Sunday: Serge Ibaka could be on his way out of Orlando

                                          (Credit: YouTube. Click here for video) 

Earlier this season, I wrote about the sorry state of the Orlando Magic and since then, nothing has really changed. They are 20-36 overall and are currently on a four game losing streak, having won just two of their last 10 games. With things not going as they would like, the Magic are reportedly looking to move Serge Ibaka before the February 23rd trade deadline. Ibaka was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder after last season's NBA Draft in exchange for Victor Oladipo and the draft rights to #11 pick Domantas Sabonis, so his time in Orlando has been really brief.

Marc Stein of ESPN has more details.

Seven months and change later, Orlando is exploring all of its options anew. League sources say the Magic are fielding calls from a handful of teams on Ibaka as the deadline approaches, amid undeniable concern that retaining the Congo native in free agency come July will prove much trickier than initially anticipated.

Sources say Toronto and Miami are among the Eastern Conference teams that have expressed interest in Ibaka this month. More than one rival club has expressed the belief that Orlando will use the next 10 days before the deadline to keep fielding offers and then, ultimately, choose the best available package for Ibaka on Feb. 23 and make the move.

What is hard to gather at the moment is what the Magic are looking for in return. Given that Ibaka will hit unrestricted free agency in the summer, his value is diminished by the fact that there's no guarantee he stays where he gets sent to. That makes it harder for the Magic to get the kind of deal that they would prefer.

At the same time, Serge Ibaka is still a productive player, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. A team like the Toronto Raptors, who are desperately looking to improve their team for an NBA Finals push would really benefit from Serge Ibaka's presence for the postseason stretch, so trading for him is probably worth the gamble. Plus, if things go well, they should have no problem locking him up to a long-term deal. A big reason for why the Magic are looking to deal Ibaka appears to be due to him not being happy with the direction of the franchise. If he lands in a situation where he can compete, odds are good he sticks around.

If the Orlando Magic are really confident that Serge Ibaka bolts in free agency, then they should absolutely trade him and get back what they can. He's got a lot of value and they could get a lot back for him. What looks bad is that they gave up Victor Oladipo, a young budding all-star, to get him. If you give up a guy like Oladipo, you better hang to that piece for longer than half a season. Of course, if that piece isn't going to stay, then trading that piece makes sense. The Magic were hoping Ibaka would turn their franchise around and he hasn't delivered like they hoped he would. Hence, it makes sense for them to trade him even though it does look like trading Victor Oladipo was a mistake.

It will certainly be interesting to see what becomes of Serge Ibaka as the trade deadline approaches. If he lands with the right team, he could have an impact on the upcoming playoffs. Even though he isn't producing like the Magic were hoping, he's still a very talented player with a lot to offer. Any team looking to give their team a boost for the postseason has to be very intrigued by Ibaka's availability. At the right price, he's definitely worth rolling the dice on.

Update: The Associated Press is reporting that the Magic will trade Serge Ibaka to the Raptors for Terrence Ross and a 2017 1st round pick. Click here for details.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Orlando Magic are having a rough go

The Orlando Magic are having a rough go to say the least. They are 17-27 overall, 2-8 in their last 10 games, and currently on a three game losing skid after getting rocked 118-98 in New Orleans by the Pelicans. Evan Fournier is leading the way for this team with 16.5 points per game while Serge Ibaka is scoring 15.5 points, grabbing 7.1 rebounds, and blocking 1.6 blocks per game.

If I can get to the heart of the matter real quick, the issue with this Orlando team appears to be the lack of a true franchise player. Serge Ibaka was a nice addition, but he so far hasn't lived up to expectations. As for Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton, I am not yet convinced that either one of those guys will become franchise level players even though both guys are improving and scoring in double figures every night.

When the Orland Magic traded Victor Oladipo to get Serge Ibaka, the thought process was that Ibaka was going to be their franchise player and be a better guy to build around than Oladipo, who is currently getting 16.1 points per game playing alongside Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. While on its face, trading Victor Oladipo to get Serge Ibaka wasn't a bad move, it hasn't exactly energized the franchise. Victor Oladipo (24) is three years younger than Serge Ibaka (27) and appeared to be all the more ready and excited to be the new franchise player in Orlando. Given his youth and upside, the only way it makes sense to trade him is if you can get an instant upgrade and a guy who is more capable of leading your franchise. Serge Ibaka at the moment is not looking like such an upgrade.

Overall, all that the Orlando Magic can do is hope that Serge Ibaka and Evan Fournier get more comfortable being their go to guys and continue to grow in their roles while Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton continue to develop as well. I'm not ready to write off this Magic team as a lost cause, but it's certainly approaching that point. I just don't see this team being a a serious contender for quite a while.

Note: Evan Fournier has missed three straight games with a right heel injury and remains out indefinitely. Not good.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Orlando Magic could surprise people this season

The Orlando Magic are in recovery mode from the Dwight Howard era and still to some extent the Shaquille O'Neal era. But while the rebuilding period is far from over, I personally think it is foolish to pencil them in as a lottery team for the upcoming season. A combination of the talent they have acquired and the changing landscape of the Eastern Conference could result in the Orlando Magic winning their share of games this season while also making the playoffs.

Last season was no doubt a horrible season for the Magic as they went 23-59, but the good that came of it was drafting Arizona forward Aaron Gordon with the #4 overall pick. Gordon is much more NBA ready than most people think he is and I personally think he will make a huge impact on the Magic this season. While his offensive polish isn't there, his freakish athleticism, defensive abilities, and his hustle is sure to make the Orlando Magic a much tougher team to scheme for. In addition to Gordon, the Magic also acquired Elfrid Payton in the draft who is sure to be a nice fit in the backcourt with Victor Oladipo.

What is probably most overlooked about this Orlando Magic team is the veterans that were acquired. Ben Gordon and Channing Frye may be overpaid, but there is no doubt that they will make the Magic a better team. Gordon should really help the maturation of Payton and Oladipo while also providing a quality scoring threat from beyond the arc, and similarly, Channing Frye should help Aaron Gordon develop as a small forward while also putting up quality numbers. If the veterans and the young guns on this Magic team can mesh, it isn't at all crazy to think that the Magic will win their share of games and possibly sneak into the playoffs.

As for the landscape of the Eastern Conference, things look wide open for that #8 spot with the Pacers, Celtics, 76ers, Bucks, and Pistons all heading to the lottery. Looking at the players that they now have and the state of these other teams, the Magic should easily be hanging around the 9-10 range in the Eastern Conference standings throughout the entire year. In truth, snagging the #8 seed really isn't an unreachable goal for this Orlando Magic team.

In conclusion, the Orlando Magic appear to be on the right track to have a competitive season this year and also in the seasons to come. They have a nice blend of youth and veteran leadership to keep them in the playoff mix until the very end.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord