Two-time all-star center Domantas Sabonis is now a Sacramento King following a blockbuster six-player trade with the Indiana Pacers.
The Kings are also getting Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and Indiana's 2023 second-round draft pick. In return, the Kings are sending guards Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton, along with center Tristan Thompson.
"It's an exciting trade and it changes the landscape significantly,'' said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. He called Haliburton "an elite young point guard that affects the game positively in many, many ways. We're getting three players who are good now and in the case of Tyrese, he has a chance to continue to grow. ... Finding a franchise-caliber point guard at age 21 is extremely difficult to do.'' Sabonis is 25-years-old and averaging about 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per game this season. He's also third in the NBA with 34 double-doubles this season.
Parting with Haliburton, the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft who had been believed to be a cornerstone player for the franchise's future, the Kings' backcourt now revolves around point guard De'Aaron Fox and rookie Davion Mitchell.
The NBA trade deadline is at noon tomorrow.