In exchange for their own 2026 first-round selection and more financial freedom in advance of the offseason, the New Orleans Pelicans acquired the Indiana Pacers' No. 23 pick and the rights to Mojave King, a G League player. Given that the championship is still in progress and the draft is still several days away, this transaction is even more remarkable.

The commerce agreement

Pascal Siakam was acquired by the Toronto Raptors last year in exchange for the Pacers' 2026 first-round selection. Later in the year, as part of the deal that brought Brandon Ingram to the Pelicans, this pick was sold to them. The Pelican now has an advantage because they have two picks (Nos. 7 and 23) in the first round of the June 2025–26 draft.

King, on the other hand, was selected in the second round two years ago and made his final appearance in 15 games with the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League during the 2023–24 campaign. He played in Puerto Rico and his home country of New Zealand last year.

What are the benefits for the Pacers?

According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, the Pacers are currently $20 million below the luxury tax level as they prepare for the summer. In addition to helping them reduce their expenditures by an additional $3.24 million, this deal also granted them the right to hold first-round picks in seven straight draft seasons, beginning in 2026. The transfer therefore enables the winners of the Eastern Conference to continue their 20-year history of not paying luxury taxes.

This transfer will enable the Pacers to retain the majority of the core of their existing roster and maybe join the luxury tax club for the first time in years, with the likely exception of Myles Turner, who is about to become an unrestricted free agent.

In addition, this enables them to avoid NBA regulations that forbid clubs from trading first-round selections in back-to-back years. Previously, the only years that would have been taken into consideration for protections related to the 2027 selections were 2024, 2029, and 2031. The Pacers are now able to trade their first-rounders in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032, as well as swap rights in 2027, 2029, and 2031. This helps the Pacers demonstrate that their aim is not only to break into the Finals, but also to develop a team that will last.

On Thursday (June 19), the Pacers will now head to play a pivotal Game 6 of the NBA Finals. They are presently three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship series.

By Stuti Gupta

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