Before the 22 season trade deadline, the Kings traded Hield, Thompson and Haliburton to the Pacers in order to get Sabonis from the Pacers. Obviously, in the short term, the Kings' deal was worth it, and after they acquired Sabonis in the trade, they hired Brown as the team's head coach, and in just one season, the Kings went from being a Western League player to a Western powerhouse, entering the playoffs after a long absence. That season, Sabonis averaged 192 points and 121 rebound and became the rebounding champion of the season. Moreover, in 65 of the 79 games he played, he had a double-double, and he was also the undisputed double-double king. He himself was selected to the All-Star team three times. Although they lost to the defending champion Warriors in the playoffs, Sabonis can still record a double-double in the playoffs. Even in the confrontation with Rooney, he did not occupy much advantage, however, his contribution to the king cannot be ignored.
So far this season, Sabonis has played in 35 games for the Kings, averaging 197 points and 128 rebounds, and the current average of rebounds per game is still the first in the league. With him and Fox leading the Kings to a playoff spot in the competitive West, it's not easy.
However, the Kings' deal with the Pacers is the losing side in the long run, they have the present, and the Pacers have the future.
Perhaps, at the beginning of the trade, the Pacers never imagined that the little-known Haliburton would grow so quickly after just one season. In the season he was traded to the Pacers, he played in 26 games for the Pacers, averaging 175 points and 96 assists. And last season, he played in 56 games for the Pacers, averaging 20 points per game7 points and 104 assists were recorded. If last season's Haliburton was on the way to leveling, then this season's Haliburton has completely completed the upgrade, and all aspects of his ability have been sublimated. On November 10, 2023, in the NBA regular season, Haliburton played 39 minutes, 10 of 17 shots, 5 of 9 three-point shots, 4 of 4 free throws, and scored 29 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 block, helping the Pacers win 126-124 at home against the Bucks. On November 30, in the NBA regular season, the Pacers played 40 minutes against the Heat, Haliburton played 40 minutes, shooting 15 of 28, 6 of 16 three-pointers, and 8 of 12 free throws, scoring 44 points in the game, setting a new season high. On December 8, in the semifinals of the NBA Midseason Championship, Haliburton scored 27 points, 7 rebounds, 15 assists and 0 turnovers on 11-of-19 shooting, and in the last 48 seconds, he made a three-pointer that sealed the game, helping the Pacers defeat the Bucks 128-119 and successfully enter the finals. On December 10, in the NBA Midseason Championship, the Pacers lost 109-123 to the Lakers and missed the championship. On December 12, Haliburton was named to the NBA Midseason Tournament All-Star team for this season. On December 31, Haliburton dished out 23 assists in the Pacers' 140-126 home win over the Knicks in the NBA regular season, tying the team-held record for individual assists in a single game held by Jamal Tinsley.
Now Haliburton is only 23 years old, four years younger than Sabonis, and some say he's the next son of the wind, Nash, but I'd like to call him the one-of-a-kind Haliburton, the new king of the Pacers. After all, his scoring and assist ability is not weaker than Nash, and on holidays, he will definitely become the No. 1 guard in the East and lead the Pacers to chase a championship. Although he may have complained at the beginning of the trade that the Kings management did not have the ability to discern the talent and hand him over to others, isn't he just slapping the Kings management in the face now?