On the brink of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, the Sacramento Kings made a surprising move by trading Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers as part of a deal focused on acquiring star big man Domantas Sabonis. With the longest playoff drought in North American professional sports, the pressure was on Sacramento and owner Vivek Ranadivé, who was reluctant to commit to a complete rebuild centered around Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox.
The Kings faced a log jam of point guards, featuring Fox, Haliburton, and Davion Mitchell, while lacking a reliable center beyond Richaun Holmes. Haliburton was the most valuable asset the Kings could trade to enhance their roster quickly. With Fox having recently signed a five-year, $163 million extension and Haliburton still under his rookie contract, he became an attractive trade target.
In the short term, the trade proved beneficial for Sacramento. The Kings snapped a 16-year playoff drought, securing 48 victories and achieving the highest offensive rating (119.4) in NBA history, ironically surpassed by the Pacers the following season, who subsequently advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Sabonis received All-NBA accolades and became the central figure in a dynamic offense relying on dribble handoffs and open three-point shooting. The Kings ultimately lost in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs to the Golden State Warriors and have yet to return to the playoffs, having faced setbacks in consecutive Play-In Tournaments.
Haliburton’s move to Indiana enabled him to reach his full potential as one of the league’s top guards. The Kings, meanwhile, traded Fox before the 2025 trade deadline to the San Antonio Spurs and now find themselves in dire need of a point guard as they approach a pivotal offseason.
Currently, the Pacers stand just three wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, with Haliburton contributing significantly, including a remarkable Game 1 performance where he scored 31 points and recorded 11 assists in a thrilling 138-135 overtime win against the New York Knicks.
Reflecting on Haliburton’s Time with the Kings
During the 2020 NBA Draft, Haliburton unexpectedly fell to the Kings at the 12th pick, despite being projected as a top 10 selection. Sacramento had needs at multiple positions but opted to draft the best available player, despite having Fox as their established point guard.
Haliburton quickly established himself as a standout in his rookie class. In just his sixth game, he played 35 minutes off the bench and scored 15 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter of a 128-124 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Despite limited starting opportunities, his performance hinted at his potential as an orchestrator of the offense. He started 20 games in his first season, and when he was utilized as a bench player, the Kings often ensured he and Fox did not play together.
Throughout his time in Sacramento, Haliburton only started alongside Fox for part of his second year, totaling 51 starts before his trade. In his last game for the Kings, he recorded 17 assists in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the final stretch before the trade deadline, reports suggested that Sacramento intended to continue building around both Fox and Haliburton, which ultimately didn’t materialize.
Challenges Facing the Fox-Haliburton Duo
During their time together, Haliburton shared the court with Fox for 960 minutes in the 2020-21 season, marking their pairing as the ninth most common on the team. However, they posted a disappointing -4.7 net rating, the second worst among Sacramento’s pairings with significant playing time. The following season saw their net rating drop further to -5.3 over 853 minutes together.
The similarity in their playing styles hindered the potential success of this duo. Fox, a high-usage guard, thrives in the midrange area, while Haliburton proved he could be an exceptional offensive leader independently. The Kings decided to trade Haliburton for Sabonis, aiming to fully invest in the Fox-Sabonis combination, desperate to end their infamous playoff drought. As for Indiana, they aimed to revitalize their franchise by acquiring a premier talent and restructured their roster in pursuit of championship aspirations.
