BREAKING: Danny Granger Traded for Evan Turner

Feb 1, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger (33) posts up against the Brooklyn Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers have made a big trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. The deal will send Danny Granger (and his expiring contract) to Philly in exchange for forwards Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen.

Granger has been the subject of trade rumors since the season began. Many believed that he would be moved before the season ended as the Pacers tried to improve their bench.

In 29 games this season, Granger averaged just 8.3 points per game off 36-percent shooting. He pulled in 3.6 rebounds and dished out 1 assist per game. He was averaging 22.5 minutes per game.

Granger did have two starts this season. At Atlanta, he had 14 points off 4-of-10 shooting. He also started against Portland and connected on just 3-of-10 shots for seven points.

Allen will likely not see too many minutes for the rest of the season, but Turner will be one of the first players off the bench. Allen is averaging 5.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game.

Turner was the Sixers leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points per game. He’s shooting nearly 43-percent this season and averaging 6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Turner was the second pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the same draft where Paul George was taken 10th.

Rarely will you see a team trade away their leading scorer, but with a 15-40 record, the Sixers have to be looking to snag a high lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

How Turner adjusts to coming off the bench will be the real key moving forward. The fact that he is on a team that has something to play for will likely go a long way towards keeping him content. If not, David West will certainly solve the problem.

Production wise, Turner certainly seems like an upgrade over Granger. Granger was a fan favorite for a long time, and many believed that he had earned the right to compete for a championship.

According to reports, the Pacers management had viewed Granger as “dead weight,” and had been looking to move him for some time. His lack of production hurt his trade value, but the expiring contract was attractive enough to reach an accord with the Sixers.

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