Teams shipping away superstars rarely come out looking great in the short term. Even if a piece they get back develops into someone special, like in the case of the Grizzlies and Lakers’ Gasol swap nine years ago, it’ll still take some time to recalibrate from the original reaction.
That said, the Pacers are getting more out of returning piece Victor Oladipo than anyone could’ve imagined early on. The 25-year-old guard is a top-10 scorer at 26 points per game and getting to the free throw line at a markedly improved rate.