Getting traded so early in his career was an emotional experience for new Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, as he wrote in a Players Tribune post. He was caught by surprise when his agent informed him he might be traded and “started crying my eyes out” when Kings GM Monte McNair told the second-year guard he’d been dealt to Indiana.
After reflection, Haliburton felt much more comfortable about the deal.
“More than anything, though, right now it really does just feel good to be wanted,” he wrote. “And I can’t thank the Pacers enough for their belief in me. I’m humbled to have been traded for an All-Star player like Domantas (Sabonis), and I fully understand that this team wouldn’t trade away a player like him for someone to just come in and be so-so.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The addition of Marvin Bagley III was coupled with an admission from Pistons GM Troy Weaver that he made a mistake while building the roster, The Athletic’s James Edwards III notes. Detroit has been sorely lacking in an athletic big to give the rotation a different look than Isaiah Stewart and Kelly Olynyk while providing a lob threat for guards Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes. In Edwards’ estimation, it was worth a roll of the dice to bring in Bagley this season, even at the expense of two second-round picks, because he’s the best player in the Kings-Pistons portion of the four-team trade and Detroit got even younger.
- The Bulls were among the teams interested in trading for Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson prior to the deadline, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports. The Bulls viewed Robinson as a defensive center to back up offensively-skilled Nikola Vucevic for an extended playoff run, Berman adds. The Pistons were also among the teams who inquired about Robinson.
- The Bulls didn’t make a significant move before the deadline and that’s fine with Zach LaVine, according to Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. “They’re going to go out there and try to improve the team any way they can, you can’t get mad at that,” LaVine said. “It’s our job to come out here with the guys that we have, and when we were healthy, we were showing that we were always at the top and one of the best teams in the NBA. I think that’s what we’re hanging our hat on. When we get healthy, we’ll get back to what we do.” That’s a big if, now that LaVine is getting his ailing left knee re-examined this week.
Pistons should of traded Stewart for Robinson. Add in whatever to make it work
Mr. Haliburton — you are a second year rookie who got traded from an inconsequential team to a marginally less inconsequential team. Why are you writing articles about it?
You are more than allowed to be sensitive and emotional about it, but until you’ve actually done something idgaf!
@LilD
or..or… here’s a thought. you can just skip the article and say nothing about it? I thought it was a interesting article to read. We always talk about how players only want money and how they all want to pal up and play in big cities. it was interesting to hear his reaction.
Well it’s not interesting to me so I’m making my voice heard. Hopefully they listen and we hear it from the perspective of someone who matters.
Should we print an article each time a player goes back and forth to the G League too?
It’s just about content creation and clicks. Don’t be delusional…
Just because they are in small markets doesn’t mean they aren’t good players. Halliburton and Sabonis are fun to watch and really talented. The pacers may of had their line up injured this year, but over the last 25-30 years not a lot of teams have won more games. People in the Midwest like sports too.
Speaking of inconsequential…
Pacers save haliburton from kings curse. Kings will always be kings.
Well where are all you Kings defenders tonight huh? Almost like a playing an actual contending team shows you where exactly this basketball team is in terms of actually competing in any meaningful way. Barnes drops a solid 6 points, Gentry benches the guy the we mortgaged the future for in the last 6 mins. Donte doing his best Buddy Hield impression (and don’t even with the 5 steals, we got man handled) Well? Everyone who came on here to preach that the trade was a blessing for the Kings owes me an apology for talking about the Kings like they’ve seen an ounce of Sacramento basketball this year.
And for my fellow Kings fans who wanted to be positive about the Domas trade, I say to you; WAKE. UP. We haven’t waited for 15 seasons just to see a play in game. God this is so frustrating.
After 3 gms. Kings are 2-1. So you think after 15 seasons you were doing better.
Kings beat a Twolves team that looked lost in the 4th quarter and a recently gutted Wizards. Both of those wins coming off great scoring performances from Barnes. Today they faced an actual playoff team who was missing all of it’s stars and they got beat down all night. Gentry is doofus. McNair is a stooge. And apparently I’m the biggest idiot of all because I think Haliburton’s ceiling is higher than Sabonis’. Sorry but these last 3 games aren’t impressive enough for me to just hop on the hope wagon the rest of the Kings fans have found a seat on especially with such an absolutely atrocious shooting night from them. Again I say, WAKE. TF. UP.
Wtf? Relaxe dude. The deal was a win win Okey. I like this move. We don’t are a top 5 team with one all star. But the situation is much better before this deadline. This season is watching the new players
Play in or not.. So what.
Next season is importanter. We have all our picks, player assets and the MLE
This is the type of guy who likes the trade. Importanter ladies and gentlemen. Importanter
62% Kingsfanson Twitter like this deal
Where is your problem?
Haliburton is avg 22.5 pts and 11 ast with Pacers. But let’s talk about his feelings.
Honestly both teams got a good player in Halliburton and Sabonis And back to our Lousy team and our putrid lousy coach who is not the right coach for your so called rebuild. He plays vets like Burks and Gibson 40 mins and he plays Obi and Reddish 8 minutes. This fraud keeps finding ways to lose games. We lost to a G League team last night. Time to fire this stubborn grumpy old man who offense is dump the ball into his grumpy young man Julia’s no handle Randle. Thibs rotations are delusional.