Indiana Acquired a Young Starting Guard
The Pacers received Darren Collison and James Posey through an August 2010 four-team trade involving the Nets, Rockets and New Orleans Hornets. Collison had impressed as a rookie guard in New Orleans when asked to run the offense, giving Indiana an identifiable young backcourt target. Posey provided experienced wing depth. New Jersey acquired veteran big Troy Murphy, Houston secured Courtney Lee, and New Orleans added Trevor Ariza. All four teams obtained an actual player rather than purely conditional draft rights.
Collison Delivered a Tangible Pacers Return
Collison gave Indiana a guard capable of running the offense and creating opportunities for teammates. His size and scoring limitations were part of the evaluation, but his early Pacers tenure provided real starting-caliber minutes instead of the uncertain promise of an unsigned prospect. Posey contributed veteran experience in a narrower role. Collison later played elsewhere and returned to Indiana again, but the first stretch following this trade alone was enough to establish meaningful receiving-team value.
Houston and New Orleans Found Useful Wings
Courtney Lee offered Houston perimeter defense and outside shooting, filling a role different from Murphy's interior abilities. Trevor Ariza joined the then-New Orleans Hornets as a wing capable of guarding opponents and working without requiring constant offensive touches. Their B grades recognize legitimate fits without claiming either became an immediate franchise centerpiece. New Jersey's Murphy acquisition delivered a shorter and less impactful return than the longer-term guard and wing options obtained by the other participants.
The Four-Team Structure Matters to the Verdict
The transaction was not simply a swap of Collison for Ariza; Houston and New Jersey also took parts of the same arrangement. Indiana's A- is supported by Collison's immediately usable backcourt role. Houston and New Orleans each receive B for accomplished wings, while the Nets get C for Murphy's limited stay. Comparing only draft position or career scoring elsewhere would miss the actual receiving-team roles these four franchises gained during the following seasons.
Final Verdict
Pacers Win. Indiana earns A- for Darren Collison's early lead-guard contribution and James Posey's veteran depth. Houston gets B for Courtney Lee, and New Orleans also receives B for Trevor Ariza's wing defense. The Nets receive C for Troy Murphy's shorter impact. The Pacers obtained the most durable direct roster solution from this four-team exchange.