Former NBA All-Star suggests ludicrous Tyrese Haliburton trade

In February 2022, the Indiana Pacers traded Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton. Fast forward over two years later, and the Pacers are playing their best and most successful basketball in over a decade in large part due to Haliburton's presence.

Last season, the Pacers ended with a 47-35 record, their best since the 2018-19 season. Additionally, they made a playoff appearance for the first time since 2020 and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance for the first time since 2014. As the team approaches the 2024-25 season, there are high expectations in Indiana.

In his two full seasons with the Pacers, Haliburton has also enjoyed a lot of individual success on top of helping his team become title contenders. The Wisconsin native has become a two-time All-Star, a one-time All-NBA Third Team selection, and an assists leader during his time with the Pacers. Additionally, he is now an Olympic gold medalist after Team USA's run in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Furthermore, at 24 years old, the sky is the limit for Haliburton and the Pacers. He is quickly becoming a household name and is considered one of the best young stars in the league.

To the average person, he should theoretically be considered an untouchable player for the Pacers. If anybody calls about a potential trade for the Iowa State alum, the Pacers front office should just hang up no questions asked. While most would agree, a former NBA guard and two-time All-Star begs to differ for some reason.

Stephon Marbury suggests that the Pacers should trade Tyrese Haliburton to the Phoenix Suns

Per basketball journalist Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Marbury said that he thinks the Suns need a scoring guard to pair alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, and that the Pacers star is exactly the type of player they need.

“[The Suns] need a scoring point guard. They need a guy that can get them going but can really go too. Like the kid that plays for the Indiana Pacers? Tyrese [Haliburton]. He didn’t play in the Olympics that much this year. But if he gets stronger? Oh my God, he will be off the hook!” said Marbury.

It is important to mention that Marbury is technically advocating for the Suns to acquire Haliburton as opposed to the Pacers needing to trade him. Still, this makes no sense for a lot of reasons.

First, the Pacers are not trading Haliburton under any circumstance regardless of who is interested in acquiring him. He has improved every year he has been in the NBA and has the Pacers in a position in the league they have not been in since at least the Paul George era. Additionally, the team signed Haliburton to a long-term extension that will keep him under contract through the 2028-29 season.

Second, Haliburton has accepted Indiana as his new home, constantly representing the WNBA's Indiana Fever and the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. He seems to enjoy being in Indiana, and it is fair to assume that feeling is mutual.

Third, a Haliburton trade that sends him to Phoenix objectively would not work at all--financially or from a basketball perspective. There is nobody the Suns could send to Indiana (outside of maybe Booker, but even this is a huge stretch) that would make trading Haliburton worth it. Of course, Durant is still amazing, but he is 11 years older than Haliburton and would probably not fit Indiana's timeline.

Phoenix would love to have Haliburton on their team, as they should. Their biggest weakness is arguably their point guard position, which adding the Pacers star would fix. However, due to his contract (and Indiana's obvious desire to keep him around for the long haul), it makes it impossible for the Suns to land Haliburton.

Marbury is right. The Suns would benefit from having Haliburton on the roster. However, trades are always at least a two-way street, and unless Phoenix has the power to send over a prime Steve Nash in 2024, this is a pipe dream that will continue to be one.