“Trae is just as good as Haliburton” - Paul Pierce thinks the Wizards can surpass the Pacers next season

While teams like the Atlanta Hawks reshaped their identity at the midseason trade window to make an immediate playoff push, the Washington Wizards appear to be building with next season in mind.

With the newly formed duo of Trae Young and Anthony Davis expected to be fully healthy and motivated, there is growing optimism around the franchise’s chances in the East.

Given the level of their star power, even former NBA champion Paul Pierce predicted that this Wizards team would surely outperform a fully healthy Indiana Pacers team that went back-to-back in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pierce has high hopes for Trae and AD

There is little debate about Davis’ two-way impact when he’s healthy — he is a walking 20-point double-double machine. Pairing him with an elite playmaker and consistent 22-to-25-point scorer in Young creates a dynamic offensive foundation, especially when both are great in pick-and-roll plays.

Add to that promising young talents like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington, and Pierce believes Washington’s ceiling may actually surpass that of coach Rick Carlisle’s gritty Pacers squad.

Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ offensive conductor, is expected to be fully healthy after recovering from his Achilles injury. With Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Ivica Zubac and Andrew Nembhard also set to return together in the 2026–27 season, Indiana will once again field a formidable lineup.

Still, Pierce insists he would give the edge to Washington, arguing that a healthy AD can dominate any player the Pacers put in front of him.

“I like the Wizards. I think that AD is better than any player on the Pacers,” the 2008 Finals MVP said with utmost confidence on his podcast. “And I think Trae Young is just as good as Tyrese Haliburton – he’s been to a conference Finals. He’s better statistically.”

The Pacers have a stellar mindset

Every season features teams that look great on paper but fail to translate that potential into postseason success.

For Washington to justify Pierce’s confidence, Davis will have to stay consistently healthy — something that has been a recurring issue throughout his recent seasons. Young, too, will need to elevate his leadership beyond simply filling the box score and instead guide the team with composure and efficiency.

Some would even argue that this is precisely where the Pacers have excelled. As one of the league’s most cohesive and collective units, each player complements the other. And that chemistry was a major reason Indiana made significant noise in 2024 and 2025, despite being considered an underdog.

So, while the new-look Wizards team finally has a lot of potential to reignite the basketball scene in the nation’s capital, it all depends on the health and determination of the new-look duo to lead this team, especially given its fanbase’s craving for success for more than two decades.

“They got a young big man (Sarr) who looks like he was the best pick and should have been the number 1 draft pick. He plays the 5, Anthony Davis plays the 4,” Gil explained. “They both can play inside, outside, they both play defense, and so defensively, they’re going to be great. Now, pick-and-roll with Trae Young is going to be off the chain.”

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“Trae is just as good as Haliburton” – Paul Pierce thinks the Wizards can surpass the Pacers next season

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