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...and that's at least somewhat understandable with Indy being a smaller market than say, New York or LA. As of this (admittedly old) 2012 article, the Pacers were running about a $10 million dollar annual loss and were the second least profitable franchise in the NBA. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2012/01/25/the-most-and-least-profitable-nba-teams/#48d316902773

It would have been for financial reasons and not basketball reasons. The Simons will not let them go into the luxury tax so that is why they probably nixed the Conley deal.

Some notes from a podcast with Indy Star writer J Michael(Covers the pacers): The front office were presented a deal from Memphis for Aaron Holiday and a 1st rd pick for Mike Conley, Herb Simon and front office denied the trade Front office had a deal in place for Otto Porter Jr, Herb Simon denied the trade Memphis wanted Myles Turner in return for their 4th pick in the 1st rd, we countered with Sabonis and Memphis said no Offered Sabonis for the 10th pick but was rejected. So the front office likes Holiday but viewed Conley as a better win now chance. Glad this was denied. If we would have acquired Porter(due $100 mil YIKES) I would have thrown up! Glad we didn't give up Turner for the #4 pick. To me the Pacers view Turner as more valuable, especially given they never offered Turner for the 10th pick whereas they did for Saboins. So basically we got Brogdon(5 years younger and $10 mil cheaper than Conley) and Warren(just as effective as Otto Porter at much less money if not a touch better). By acquiring Brogdon, this pushed Lambs interest in Indy(said he wanted to play with someone like Brogdon). Chad Buchannan was on with JMV yesterday and the major take away I took was they are viewing this upcoming season as three smaller seasons and putting an emphasis that when Victor returns, Sabonis and Myles will work as a pair even better than what it will to start the season. First stretch with current team without Victor and seeing how the pairing of Myles and Sabonis does Acclimating Victor back into the rotation with the team Victor is at/near full strength for the stretch run to end the year.

https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-myles-turner-thinks-victor-oladipo-will-be-back-a-lot-sooner-than-people-think/