Former Sacramento guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) was the most prized trade-deadline pickup for the Pacers this week.
AP photo | Randall Benton
The annual shell game known as the NBA trade deadline is behind us, as are the Indiana Pacers as we knew them.
And, man, is it about time.
In the past few days, team management finally — I mean, finally — gave the roster a long-overdue facelift as a means of becoming younger and potentially more exciting while getting certain contracts off the books.
What becomes of it, nobody knows. But something had to be done.
The blue and gold, once the proud home of Slick’s brilliantly-timed tirades, Roger’s clutchness and Reggie’s dramatic 3s and disdain for all things New York City, was slowly dying on the vine. Indiana had become a stale, faceless, completely uninteresting franchise attracting little to no fanfare outside of I-465.
And, some would argue, inside of I-465.
Gloom, Baby!
Through 28 home games, Indiana ranks last in NBA attendance with an average of 13,997 fans inside 19,000-seat Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In a state that for generations has brazenly pounded its chest as a lover of hoops, this is embarrassing and unacceptable.
The silver lining is that Sacramento, ranked 29th in attendance, averages only two more fans per home game than the Pacers. With an Indiana playoff berth this season out of reach, escaping the league’s attendance basement is the only attainable goal remaining.
Considering Indiana just bamboozled the Kings for their most exciting talent, 21-year-old point guard Tyrese Haliburton, it’s also likely.
The six-player trade between the Pacers and Sacramento also brings Buddy Hield, 29, and his long-distance shooting to town along with 30-year-old journeyman forward Tristan Thompson (who could be valuable as long as he keeps any and all Kardashian-related dramatics out of our state).
Haliburton is the focal point of this deal. His jersey, in time, will be a popular fashion statement among Pacers fans.
Most importantly, his skills — along with those of rookie guard Chris Duarte (age 24), wing Oshae Brissett (23), forward Isaiah Jackson (20) and center Myles Turner (20) — makes for a youthful nucleus that could blossom into something special.
Turner’s four-year, $72 million contract expires at the end of this season, so he may or may not be part of the Pacers’ future plans. His defensive presence would be crucial to a successful rebuild, though at the moment Indiana is projected to select fifth in the NBA draft in June, so nothing is certain.
NBA mock drafts suggest 6-foot-10 Duke freshman power forward Paolo Banchero, 19, and 6-5 Kentucky shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe, 18, as strong possibilities. Should Indiana completely circle the drain post-All-Star break, freakishly athletic Purdue guard Jaden Ivey, 20, might be available to remain in his home state.
Whatever the case, the fact the Pacers are presently slated to pick fifth, 24th and 33rd makes June’s draft worth watching for the first time in years.
Since 2016, the Pacers’ mediocrity as a franchise has netted five first-round selections — 20th, 18th, 23rd, 18th and 13th (Duarte). Numbers not exactly associated with fans clearing their calendar to plan a draft party.
The Indiana Pacers, postseason first-round one-and-dones for five straight years (2016-20), haven’t been must-watch television since making the Eastern Conference finals eight years ago.
That could well change in a few months.
