Indiana Pacers: Did Domantas Sabonis drop a subtle hint following win over Dallas?

In a rather pleasantly surprising fashion, the Indiana Pacers managed to trump the Dallas Mavericks at home on Friday for their third consecutive victory, a season-best mark, using a spirited fourth quarter run to pull away late in head coach Rick Carlisle’s first absence of the campaign.

With the Blue and Gold mired by a bevy of rumors following a string of reports venting the franchise’s increasing desire to rebuild, the timing for the Pacers to record their longest win streak of the season cannot come at a more ironic time.

However, despite the win, fans were quick to point out one interesting sequence as players from the Pacers and Mavericks dabbed up after the contest, singling out Domantas Sabonis‘ striking amity with Dallas’ stars.

Will Domantas Sabonis start the domino on the trade front for the Indiana Pacers?

There may be a good chance that I’m reading into this too much, but there’s also reason to believe why there might be mutual interest from both sides. The Dallas Mavericks have a less-than-stellar 13-13 win-loss card so far, hardly shaking up their competitors in the ever-tough Western Conference, and adding an All-Star talent like Sabonis could bump them up a tier.

On the flip side, with the Indiana Pacers now warmer to idea of rebuilding, moving on from the franchise could be a likely venture for Sabonis, whose style of play appears to mesh well with superstar Luka Doncic.

I doubt that the Mavs have the necessary (and lofty) assets to land Domas without giving up, say, Kristaps Porzingis in addition to draft capital to soften his albatross contract, but envisioning him in Dallas is certainly riveting. I won’t be too fond of Sabonis leaving the Circle City, but given Indiana’s recent stance, I’m already tucking my shirt for the big possibility that it transpires.

Ultimately, this may just be a matter of European love between European sensations. I wouldn’t know for sure, but if there’s anything certain, it’s that the Indiana Pacers will not give their lone All-Star up for a lackluster return, such as this one, brotherly sentiments notwithstanding:

P.S. I may be a lot more cordial to the prospect of acquiring Boban Marjanovic, though. Fit be damned—I would like a massive (literally) serving of joy on the constant.