The Pacers Acquired Jeremy Evans and International Rights
On July 7, 2016, Dallas sent veteran forward Jeremy Evans, NBA draft rights to Emir Preldžić and cash to Indiana. In return the Mavericks acquired rights to Croatian center Stanko Barać. Evans had been known for spectacular athletic plays and his time with Utah, including winning the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but had only a small Dallas rotation role in 2015-16. Indiana was exploring an inexpensive wing and forward option without surrendering a current starting player or premium draft pick. Dallas chose a different overseas rights asset while moving an expendable contract. The cash moved with Evans to the Pacers and should not be reversed in the asset accounting. Both international prospects had been drafted years before the exchange and had spent their professional careers away from NBA regular-season rosters.
Evans Did Not Recreate His Utah Role in Indiana
Evans was an experienced forward with leaping ability and a history of reserve NBA appearances, but acquiring him did not give the Pacers a new full-season starting power forward. His roster status changed before he could establish a substantial regular-season role in Indiana, and the team already had other options around Paul George and its experienced frontcourt. His earlier Utah dunk highlights and Dallas reserve games should not be treated as a Pacers return from the July 2016 agreement. The Pacers B+ inherited grade can recognize receiving financial consideration plus an NBA-experienced player and rights to Preldžić, but it is generous if measured solely by subsequent Indiana player statistics. Any evaluation should distinguish the assets owned from the points and rebounds actually recorded for their receiving franchise. No long-running Pacers NBA scoring career resulted from this particular agreement.
Dallas Received Barać Rights Without an NBA Arrival
Barać had a lengthy professional career abroad but never became a Dallas NBA regular-season center after the trade. The Mavericks therefore gained signing or future-transfer optionality, not immediate basketball production from an incoming seven-footer. Their C- inherited grade reflects the narrow value of that rights claim compared with the cash and two different assets that went to Indiana. The player-right chains behind Preldžić and Barać are part of the deal’s history, but neither career in European leagues can be credited as NBA games for Dallas or Indiana. Indiana’s higher B+ and the Slight Pacers Edge verdict are consistent with receiving more varied assets, even though the direct NBA playing impact of both sides was limited. This was a salary and roster options maneuver during a summer of broader moves for both teams.
Final Verdict
Slight Pacers Edge. Indiana earns B+ for Jeremy Evans, Emir Preldžić rights and cash considerations; Evans did not establish a new regular-season starting role for the Pacers. Dallas receives C- for Stanko Barać draft rights, which never became a Mavericks NBA playing career. The return was largely contractual and speculative.