Let’s get it back to Ben Simmons rumor mongering and speculation. “Mongering” is a good word, isn’t it? I once met someone who was a cheese monger in New York City, i.e. she worked at a place that sold Brie and Gouda and Roquefort and all of that.

But anyway, Shams Charania at The Athletic is reporting that the Pacers are edging towards blow it up mode and are going to make available three of their best players:

Multiple sources said that the Pacers are receptive in trade dialogue with rival teams centered on potentially moving guard Caris LeVert and either two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis or center Myles Turner. All three players have frequently garnered significant interest from rival teams. Pacers officials have received frequent calls on both of their big men over the past several seasons, but new head coach Rick Carlisle wanted an opportunity to spend time with Sabonis and Turner and grow with the roster. Even still, Carlisle has remained interested in seeing the frontcourt duo together.

The Pacers are moving toward opening further playing time for Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson, the team’s 13th and 22nd overall picks, respectively, in the 2021 NBA Draft. Indiana is 13th in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the Central Division. In 24 games this season, Duarte has shown to be a dependable player on both ends of the court, and is a favorite of Carlisle.

You remember the Malcolm Brogdon rumor? They can’t trade him because he signed a recent contract extension and is locked in through 2025. So rule that one out. No Simmons/Brogdon swap.

LeVert is a nice player who is having a brutal three-point shooting season. Could definitely go for a change of scenery. Sabonis is fantastic, but if you bring him here he’d be playing the four, which would bump Tobias Harris down to the three, etc. Turner is another big, and that’s kind of been Indy’s issue, is making the Sabonis+Turner combo work. They also have an injured T.J. Warren coming back at some point.

If anything, this opens up a scenario here where if the Sixers want to bring in a third team in a Simmons trade, Indy could fit the bill. This wasn’t necessarily the case in the summer, which is why waiting can be beneficial. You give it 6-8 weeks of play, see how the standings are shaping up, and then more avenues open for you to traverse. The Blazers fired their GM and now the Pacers are reportedly throwing in the towel, so things are unfolding in a way for the Sixers that might give them “optionality,” as Daryl Morey would say, in trade approaches.