Tyrese Haliburton set to spearhead the Indiana Pacers youth movement

In an utterly shocking move, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a blockbuster, six-player deal that netted the franchise a new rising star in Tyrese Haliburton as they move on to a new era of Indiana basketball.

Just less than two days before the trade deadline, the Pacers made a grand change, sending two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, guard Jeremy Lamb, wing Justin Holiday, and a 2023 second-round pick (conveys if 31-55) to the Sacramento Kings for Haliburton, guard Buddy Hield, and big man Tristan Thompson.

The move came as a massive surprise. Not only did Indiana showed restraint in recent weeks on the Sabonis front, but Sacramento has already cut off an initial offer centered on De’Aaron Fox. That they were willing to part with Haliburton instead sent shockwaves to fans across the league, given his tremendous ceiling as a 21-year-old point guard.

The Indiana Pacers now have a new franchise cornerstone in Tyrese Haliburton

Now, the Indiana Pacers can finally move toward a youth movement, primarily marked by the end of the shaky Turbonis era in the Circle City, a partnership which netted the franchise three playoff appearances since the 2017-18 season.

Tyrese Haliburton, the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is averaging 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game on 45.7/41.3/83.7 shooting splits as the second option in Sacramento in his sophomore campaign.

Projected to have an even more prominent role in Indiana, the rangy 6’5 playmaker should have more ground to cement his status as one of the league’s up-and-coming stars.

He now joins an electric young backcourt for the Pacers, with rookie Chris Duarte now poised for a bigger role after the Caris LeVert trade.

Despite having executed two major trades now, expect the Indiana Pacers to remain active in trade talks, with the injured Ricky Rubio, newly acquired Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson all expected to be made available.

All in all, the Blue and Gold now has Haliburton, Duarte, Isaiah Jackson, longtime Pacer Myles Turner, Duane Washington Jr., Goga Bitadze, Terry Taylor and Oshae Brissett as they shift to a youth movement. Veterans Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren, TJ McConnell, Torrey Craig, and Lance Stephenson round out the roster.