In the last few weeks, the Indiana Pacers have been tangled in trade rumors surrounding Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox. With Domantas Sabonis at the forefront of the opposing panel, a trade between both teams would have been a win-win situation as both are in a state of flux.
Instead, the Pacers seemingly ducked from the deal and the golden opportunity for a long-overdue refresh to remain competitive without starting from ground zero. The Athletic’s Sam Amick, speaking to Sacramento Sports Radio Station, revealed that the indication was Indiana’s brass was not interested in a Sabonis-Fox swap, and believed that a bigger package has to be given in return for the two-time All-Star, the degree of which the Kings were not willing to explore.
While I have mentioned before that it would be understandable why the Pacers would have some reservations taking on Fox for Sabonis, the franchise’s current stance gives them no clear avenue to improve the roster without some concessions. Deliberately rejecting the Kings guard to shake things up is simply a move which arouses more confusion than assurance.
The Indiana Pacers could eventually regret not trading for De’Aaron Fox
In a direct comparison, Domantas Sabonis is the superior player, both numbers and accolades-wise. Alas, he also has a much friendlier contract, with his average salary of less than $19 million ranking as one of the league’s best bargains. On the other hand, De’Aaron Fox makes an average of $32.6 million per season, hypothetically being the most expensive contract in the Pacers books ever.
However, on a macro lens, there is a legitimate argument to be made for Fox being a perfect fit in Indiana. A natural point guard in essence, his up tempo style of play bodes well for a Pacers team currently infused with young talent. Even in the half court, he would certainly thrive as the main playmaker next to Malcolm Brogdon, who cannot be traded this season and should succeed more in a streamlined role as a shooting guard anyway.
On the flip side, Sabonis could be what raises the Kings’ ceiling as a unit. With Tyrese Haliburton running the show, the talented big man’s nifty touch as a post scorer and facilitator from the top of the key have galvanizing uses for Sacramento’s normally unpredictable scoring attack, especially with offensive guru Alvin Gentry currently at the helm.
Naysayers would point to this proposal and think that Myles Turner is the better outward piece, but trading Sabonis should not confer him an automatic ticket to stay in the Circle City. If the right deal is there, the front office should take a hard look, especially with young guns like Isaiah Jackson and Goga Bitadze, and even surprising reclamations like Terry Taylor looking poised to contribute in bigger roles.
Luckily, the trade deadline is not yet over, and the Indiana Pacers have a few days remaining to whip up something new to animate the franchise’s stale position. However, if the door on De’Aaron Fox becomes firmly closed, passing up on him could be what haunts them as they enter into the next chapter of Indiana basketball.