Pacers acquiring Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield in significant trade for Domantas Sabonis
Six players are involved as the Pacers continue to retool the roster.
The Pacers have agreed to trade All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a second-round pick to the Sacramento Kings for guards Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and center Tristan Thompson, league sources confirmed to Fieldhouse Files.
This continues the Pacers’ remaking of their roster, their second deal this week leading up to the trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. And they’re likely not done.
“It’s a time that presents challenges because there are going to be some unknowns as you head up to it,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said on Monday.
“But on a day-to-day basis, we’ve got to normalize things as much as possible. We’ve got to stay with our schedule, as a coaching staff we’ve got to stay with game planning and communicating with our players to help them get better every day and to try to compete at the best possible level in all these games.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the trade.
Much like when the Pacers traded Paul George to the Thunder, they wanted young pieces with All-Star potential. That’s what you’re getting here in Haliburton, who has started all 51 games he’s played this season.
They’re getting another rising star. Literally. Like rookie Chris Duarte, he will participate in the Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend later this month.
Haliburton was the 12th overall pick in the 2020 draft and then was voted to the All-Rookie First Team. He's a point guard who can both shoot (41.3 percent from 3) and distribute (7.4 assists per game), as well as playmake. And you cannot have enough of that. He instantly becomes their most accurate shooter.
One week ago, he went off for 38 points in 40 minutes in a two-point loss at Philadelphia. He scored 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting against the Pacers back in early November.
Buddy Hield just turned 29 and is under contract for two more years, through the 2023-24 season. Though his numbers are down this season, he’s a career 40-point 3-point shooter. And the combines salaries of Haliburton and Hield are slightly below that of Sabonis and Holiday for next season.
Thompson ($9.7 million), like Lamb, is in the final year of his deal.
This is two organizations, both 13th in their respective conferences, teaming up in hopes to improve their roster.
Sensing a theme here for the Pacers? Shooting, athleticism, playmaking and going young. Imagine a core of Haliburton, Duarte and Jackson for Carlisle, along with valuable draft picks this offseason.
Veteran Justin Holiday will be eligible to play in Sacramento. There is not a vaccine mandate for residents like there is in San Francisco or New York City. Holiday is unvaccinated and plans to remain that way.
“During this time, you know something might go down at some time,” he said Sunday after the Pacers traded Caris LeVert to the Cavs. “Me being in this league for a long time, I’m not really surprised by anything.”
The Pacers are in Atlanta to play the Hawks Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then, they won’t play again until Friday night at home against the Cavaliers.
See Also: Pacers share their thoughts on Caris LeVert being traded
This is the first time in a long time that I have been excited for the Pacer's future. I was so worried that another trade deadline was going to pass with nothing to show for it. I loved Sabonis, but this deal is too good. On the other hand, I feel terrible where Sabonis landed but hope he can find a way to be happy.
I would have been ok for this trade if it were Turner going out. Pacers really need to still move Turner and Goga this week. This is a worst case scenario— Sabonis gone and those two remain on the roster.