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    Revisiting the Pacers-Kings Tyrese Haliburton Trade: Why Did Sacramento Deal the Rising Superstar Guard to Indiana?

    Three years ago, the Sacramento Kings shocked the NBA world by trading then-rising star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers. While the blockbuster move was initially perceived as a win-win, Haliburton’s ascension into Indiana’s franchise player has since shifted the narrative.

    As Haliburton spearheads the fourth-seeded Pacers’ (50-32) unlikely 2025 NBA Finals run, many are wondering why Sacramento moved on from him so early in his career. Let’s revisit the Kings’ reported thought process and how the deal has panned out for the success-starved organization.

    What the Tyrese Haliburton Trade Looked Like

    On February 8, 2022, Sacramento shipped Haliburton to Indiana in a six-player deal midway through his second season. The 2020 No. 12 pick was traded alongside sharpshooter Buddy Hield and veteran center Tristan Thompson.

    In return, the Kings landed star center Domantas Sabonis, shooting guards Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday and a future second-round pick.

    The deal was considered a rare instance in which both teams surrendered high-profile players. While Sabonis, a two-time All-Star at the time, was the main headliner, Haliburton has since begged to differ.

    Why Did the Kings Trade Haliburton?

    Sacramento’s desire to make a win-now move involving Haliburton stemmed from its abundance of guard talent and league-worst playoff drought.

    The franchise hadn’t made the postseason since 2006. Meanwhile, it already had a star point guard in De’Aaron Fox and invested its 2021 No. 9 pick in point guard Davion Mitchell, arguably making Haliburton expendable.

    Sabonis marked a clear upgrade at center over Richaun Holmes, a limited traditional big man. The Lithuanian–American brought playmaking, outside shooting and improved interior scoring and rebounding to the Kings’ frontcourt.

    The move initially paid off, as the Fox and Sabonis-led squad experienced an offensive resurgence. Sacramento finished the 2022-23 campaign third in the Western Conference (48-34), ending its 16-year playoff dry spell. Meanwhile, Sabonis earned his third All-Star selection and first All-NBA nod (third team).

    Unfortunately for the Kings, they were upset by the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors (44-38) in a seven-game 2023 first-round playoff series. Since then, they’ve experienced consecutive play-in tournament losses, with questions surrounding their ability to overcome Sabonis’ defensive shortcomings lingering.

    Sacramento arguably made matters worse when it traded Fox to the San Antonio Spurs at this year’s trade deadline amid fears of losing him in 2026 free agency. The deal fueled criticism about the organization’s decision not to build around Haliburton, who wanted to stay, when it had him under a rookie-scale contract.

    However, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski and James L. Edwards III, the Kings “explored trades involving Fox” instead of Haliburton in 2022 but “simply didn’t find a suitable return.” The insiders added that “Fox’s market value had plummeted to the point where Tyrese Haliburton became the focal point of their rebuilding efforts.”

    Middling Kings Left Watching Haliburton’s Ascent on NBA’s Biggest Stage

    Following their short-lived success with Sabonis, the seemingly directionless Kings are left looking on as Haliburton serves as the offensive catalyst of a finals squad. Indiana has built its roster around the now-two-time All-Star’s playmaking and outside shooting prowess, with its depth and high-speed offense making it a nightly comeback threat.

    Through 18 outings this postseason, Haliburton is averaging 18.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.4 3-pointers per game, shooting 46.9%.

    If the Pacers pull off an upset over the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) in the finals, it will likely exacerbate Sacramento fans’ frustrations. The Kings haven’t won a title since 1951, when they were known as the Rochester Royals.

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