Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento memento
It’s really, really hard to find a trade bleaker for an NBA fanbase than yesterday’s blockbuster Kings-Pacers trade.
Once a promising young star who refused to let his franchise’s past define him, now a distant memory.
It’s really, really hard to find a trade bleaker for an NBA fanbase than yesterday’s blockbuster Kings-Pacers trade.
Tyrese Haliburton, a 21-year-old guard and the clear third-best player from the 2020 draft class, is on his way to Indiana alongside sharpshooter Buddy Hield and former almost Kardashian in-law Tristan Thompson. The Pacers sent back Domantas Sabonis, a 25-year-old two-time All-Star in his prime, alongside veteran guards Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday.
Sacramento landed a great player who will make their team better this season and in the future. Indiana brings in a young guard who fits their new timeline.
But that’s not just any young guard. It’s Tyrese Haliburton.
I laughed out loud at this tweet, because it might actually be true: A team that has not made the playoffs in over 15 years traded away a 21-year-old guard who just so happens to have been the only dude on the team making winning plays on a consistent basis.
Since December 17th, Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 17.3 points, 9.7 assists, and a 60.3% true shooting percentage in 24 games. That’s the sign of a young player who is figuring things out.
We also remember Haliburton’s 38-point performance in Philadelphia just over a week ago, in which he did everything you’d want a guard to do: get the team into their offense, make the right pass, knock down open shots, be aggressive to score, stay in front of their man, execute the team’s defensive scheme, anticipate steals, and avoid fouling.
On Saturday, Haliburton dropped 17 dimes en route to a convincing victory over the Thunder.
Tuesday afternoon, he was gone.
Trading away young players who are clearly on the verge of stardom is just about the worst thing an NBA franchise can do. No matter how good you think Domantas Sabonis is, can you imagine a world where him and De’Aaron Fox push the Kings to a tier anywhere near Denver, Utah, or Memphis — let alone Golden State or Phoenix?
Sacramento might have more deals coming. Harrison Barnes, Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III could all be on the move — but do we expect the return for any of them to net the Kings a player of Tyrese Haliburton’s caliber?
I might be overrating Tyrese Haliburton. Maybe he won’t become a superstar, or even an All-Star. Still, I can’t get behind the process of jettisoning a young guard with a positive attitude who made winning plays and enjoyed being in Sacramento. Yes. Sacramento.
Let me be very clear: I am not anti-Sabonis. He is very, very good, and was clearly done playing for the Pacers. The Kings landed the best player in the deal. Don’t forget that!
Kings fans aren’t going to forget about this trade. Why should they? For every accolade Tyrese Haliburton racks up in his career, Sacramento will always have a piece of him to hold onto:
The fact that he was once theirs.
A culture shift in New Orleans
The Pelicans acquired CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell from Portland yesterday in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada, a 2022 first round pick (protected 5-14) and two second round picks.
Let’s focus on the New Orleans side of things. By adding McCollum and Nance, they’re making it very clear that they see themselves as a Play-In team. We still don’t know anything about a potential Zion return, but a group of CJ-Graham-Ingram-Herb-Jonas is kinda good!
Even better — the Pelicans had Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker courtside for last night’s victory against the Rockets. After the game, the entire team got to say their goodbyes:
That’s so cool. It’s something I’ve never seen before — a team allowing themselves to make a public display of appreciation for some guys they’re going to miss. Before a tribute video or a post on social, the players made it known that they’re going to miss their friends.
Tell me that would’ve happened under Stan Van Gundy.
Links
ESPN on Bradley Beal’s decision to receive season-ending surgery on his wrist.
The NBA named their top 15 coaches in league history.
Bones Hyland gettin’ busy on Kemba Walker. A sheesh moment.
Dave McMenamin on the Lakers’ urgency to make a move — and a Russell Westbrook clip that tells you everything you need to know about their culture.
Giannis’ 44-point, 14-rebound, 8-assist domination against the Lakers. He went 17 of 20 from the field!
The All-Star Saturday Night contestants are here. Early picks: Team Rooks in the Skills Challenge, Zach LaVine in the three-point contest, and Jalen Green in the Dunk Contest.
Boston opened a can of whoop ass on Brooklyn — a 28-2 run to start the game en route to a 35-point blowout. Patty Mills told the media James Harden went through shootaround, but head coach Steve Nash refuted it. Does that mean he’s a Sixer?