Pacers acquire second-round pick from Rockets; may have interest in Wesley Matthews

The Indiana Pacers have acquired a second-round pick and cash considerations in exchange for Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin IV, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowki.

The Pacers reportedly plan to waive both players.

They also waived Ike Anigbogu to make room for the deal.

It’s been a rough week for Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin IV.

On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers sent the pair of expiring contracts to Cleveland along with future second-round picks in exchange for Rodney Hood. Three days later, the Cavs flipped both players to the Rockets as part of a multi-team trade to shed Alec Burks in exchange for a first-round pick and bad money. And now, Houston has jettisoned the duo to Indiana to get under the tax and clear roster spots.

That’s three trades in a week! Luke Ridnour can relate.

Once both players are waived, Indiana will have two open roster spots.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Pacers are among the teams interested in Wesley Matthews if he secures a buyout from the New York Knicks.

Matthews, who averaged 13.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 44 games for the Mavericks before being traded to the Knicks, would give Indiana a veteran guard and versatile defender to lean on in the playoffs in the wake of Victor Oladipo’s season-ending injury.

He would also likely take away developmental minutes from Edmond Sumner, though the 6-foot-6 slasher may still parlay his two-way contract into a standard deal with an additional roster spot now open.

Sumner scored 17 points in the team’s blowout win over the Lakers.

Golden State, Oklahoma City, and Houston are also reportedly hopeful that Matthews makes it to the buyout market.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Pacers are the frontrunners to land the 6-foot-5, 220-pound guard.