Pacers trade grades from national media (the few that they got) run the gamut

The Pacers' role in the trade deadline was primarily as a facilitator for the Milwaukee Bucks, taking on $10 million in salary in Jordan Nwora, George Hill and Serge Ibaka in exchange for three second-round draft picks (and, of course, surrendering Juan Pablo Vaulet). The Pacers waived Goga Bitadze, James Johnson and Terry Taylor, which will leave one open roster spot with Ibaka reportedly being waived as well. As a result, many media organizations didn't even grade Indiana's performance. But here are the three brave outlets that we can find:

ESPN: B+

ESPN likes the addition of Nwora and the Pacers' willingness to take on (and waive) salary:

"It's interesting that the Pacers, who entered the deadline with $10.7 million in cap space as compared to nearly $25 million for the San Antonio Spurs, were the team that ended up utilizing it Thursday. The explanation for why San Antonio didn't make this trade is simple: It required waiving multiple players to fit in all three newcomers from Milwaukee.

"To clear the necessary roster spots, Indiana waived center Goga Bitadze, who had played sparingly in the final season of his rookie contract, as well as forwards James Johnson and Terry Taylor.

"Ibaka, who had been away from the Bucks awaiting a trade, will likely be waived after its completion. Whether Hill negotiates a buyout or sticks with the Pacers for a second stint as a veteran mentor will be worth monitoring. Nwora is the lone sure keeper, a 24-year-old forward under contract for 2023-24 at $3.2 million. The high-scoring Nwora can help an undersized Indiana forward group with his size."

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Bleacher Report: A-

Bleacher Report likes the Pacers restocking their second-round picks and taking a flyer on Nwora:

"This deal will come as a blow to any Pacers fans who were trying to sell the now-waived Goga Bitadze as a valuable reclamation project for the Raptors in hypothetical O.G. Anunoby rabbit holes. Thoughts and prayers to you all.

"Scooping up Nwora and (three) second-rounders is a shrewd move. The Pacers have traded their own seconds through 2027—they might be getting one of their own back as part of this deal—so getting two more is useful. Nwora can be a slippery on-ball scorer who spaces the floor away from the action. He is shooting a higher clip from three (39.2 percent) than on twos (37.9 percent) this season.

"Potentially irrelevant aside: Indiana might be making this deal while placing real value on a Nwora stab-in-the-dark. He is on the books next season, fully guaranteed, for $3.2 million. That's a negligible number, and Indiana has a crowded backcourt. But this isn't necessarily a move you make solely for the seconds."

The Athletic: C+

The Athletic wanted the Pacers to trade Goga Bitadze instead of releasing him (the Pacers also wanted to trade Bitadze rather than releasing him), didn't understand the Hill acquisition and hasn't watched Aaron Nesmith play defense:

"It isn’t a trade deadline unless Hill is on the move. He’s headed back to Indiana along with Ibaka in this deal. Considering the guard depth of the Pacers, I’m not sure how Hill fits into this. Maybe he gets bought out and they just eat what’s left of his $4 million. Ibaka and the Bucks agreed to find him a better home and one with more opportunities. This can’t be what he was expecting but the Pacers are planning to waive him, according to (The Athletic's Shams) Charania.

"It’s interesting to see the Pacers waiving Bitadze just four years after selecting him with the 18th pick in the draft. They do have plenty of big man depth with Myles Turner, Daniel Theis, Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson. Not being able to find a place for Bitadze in a trade is a little confusing, but sometimes that’s how the cookie crumbles. He’s been out of the rotation most of the season.

"As for Nwora, he’s a nice wing to try out in the rotation at some point if they decide to keep him around. He’s only 24 years old, and he’s becoming a pretty reliable outside shooter. He is limited offensively, and maybe he can defend at a high enough level within a good system, but he’s mostly a guy to push Aaron Nesmith for minutes. Nesmith is a shooter who hasn’t exactly shot well, but the Pacers continue to play him heavy rotation minutes. Maybe Nwora creates a little more competition for those minutes while also netting them a couple second-round picks."

Grade: C+

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers trade grades from national media run the gamut