How Russell Westbrook’s trade affects the Pacers

How does the Westbrook trade affect the Pacers?

A “Woj Bomb” hit the NBA at approximately 11:55 am Wednesday morning, causing ripples in the NBA. Russell Westbrook would have been sent to the nation’s capital in exchange for John Wall and a protected first-round pick. Westbrook teams up with Bradley Beal to form one of the most formidable backcourts in the entire league. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points per game last season, indicating that he is still a very productive and dangerous player.

This trade directly impacts Indiana Pacer’s playoff seed for next NBA season. The former MVP instantly turns the Washington Wizards into a playoff team in the Eastern Conference, creating a jam in the lower half of the playoff picture in the East.

Next season, the entry tournament means the seventh through 10th seed will have to win at least one game to secure a playoff spot. This is exactly where the Pacers could end up next season thanks to the addition of Russell Westbrook to the Eastern Conference.

The Indiana Pacers will have to curdle instantly from the get-go to avoid being the seventh seed or less in the NBA’s short season. There shouldn’t be too many chemistry problems, as the Pacers are holding the same five starters from last season. The Pacers finished fourth last season, which is encouraging for next season.

However, this could work against the Pacers as well, as they haven’t made major improvements to their roster, while many other teams in the Eastern Conference have. The Nets will get a healthy Kevin Durant, the Celtics solved their center problem by adding big man Tristan Thompson, the Sixers added much-needed shooters, the Bucks added one of the league’s most underrated players at Jrue Holiday and the Miami Heat added him. They are running with a similar team that swept the Pacers into the bubble during the first round of the playoffs.