Barbosa/Randolph?

Yeah, I know it's silly to discuss breaking up a team with the chemistry the Pacers have shown recently. Still, even if the Pacers hadn't demonstrated their need for more depth against the Magic last night, it's something we all know that they need. I'm not talking about some monster trade scenario involving Danny Granger, or really any contributing player. The only players I'd really be willing to give up, actually, would be ones like AJ Price, Lance Stephenson, Lou Admundson, or Jeff Pendergraph, so I know this all kind of "in an ideal world" hyperbole. Still, if Larry Bird could somehow make it happen, these players might be interesting for the Pacers.

Anthony Randolph: I remember this guy was on Bird's radar in the last couple years, when the Knicks were trying to ship him out. The Timberwolves have so much depth with their big guys (Milicic, Brad Miller, Kevin Love, Tolliver) that Randolph was actually a DNP-CD against the Pacers, and hasn't played since. This is a guy who's never really gotten a fair chance at some playing time, but who has performed well when given some here and there. Being that he's still only 22(!), there's plenty of room for development. He's in the final year of his contract, so this could basically be a trial run to see how he fits with the team. At 6'11" he could arguably play some C when Foster isn't available, but he'd be best as an insurance policy for these bad spurts Hansbrough has had recently. The trade machine shows that we could get him straight up for Admundson, although in real life we'd obviously have to sweeten the deal somehow. As a young team with fifteen players already under contract, the Timberwolves might be more interested in a future second rounder.

Leandro Barbosa: The Pacers probably need more depth at the guard position than anywhere else except C. With George Hill out, we've been forced to go with Price and Stephenson, who combined against the Magic had twenty minutes of playing time and no points to show for it. If we'd had George, or a true scorer off the bench, it's possible we'd have had the depth to pull an ugly win out of that game. Barbosa, in the final year of his contract with the Raptors, could be that guy. The Raptors are 8-16 and, realistically, should probably be more worried about their draft position next year than winning games this year. Especially with DeRozan locked in as their SG of the future and three other guards on the roster, Barbosa (maybe) could be had. His 3 PT% is a little lower than we'd probably like at 35%, but he's a proven scorer. Again, we have nothing of real value I'd be willing to offer them, but a future second rounder and a player to make the numbers work (any of the previously mentioned players work in the ESPN trade machine) might be enough for a team that should be more concerned about the future. Even if he can't be had in a trade, Barbosa might be a player the Pacers could get in free agency for a relative bargain during the offseason.