Kings GM calls Domantas Sabonis trade ‘unique opportunity’ to acquire two-time All-Star
The Kings finalized a deal Tuesday night sending Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb.
The Kings officially announced the trade about 20 minutes before their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center. Kings general manager Monte McNair issued a statement welcoming Sabonis, Holiday and Lamb to Sacramento while thanking Haliburton, Hield and Thompson for their service.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Domantas, Justin and Jeremy to our Sacramento Kings family,” McNair said. “This was a unique opportunity to acquire a two-time All-Star and two veteran wings, all whom will help us, as we continue to build here in Sacramento. We would also like to thank Tyrese, Buddy and Tristan for their contributions to the Kings and wish them well moving forward.”
Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry could not comment on the trade before the game because it had not been finalized, but he said Haliburton is a talented player with a promising future in the NBA.
“Terrific player,” Gentry said. “I think everybody’s seen it. Good young player. Got a bright future in the league. I think you can see that.”
Gentry was asked if Tuesday was a difficult and emotional day for the Kings.
“I think it always is in any situation that has to do with some of the things that are being reported and stuff, but I think what you have to do is refocus and understand that anything that happens is part of it and you just move on,” Gentry said.
Sabonis, 25, averaged 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 blocks for the Pacers this season. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound power forward/center is in the second year of a four-year, $74.9 million deal. He is owed $18.5 million next season and $19.4 million in 2023-24.
Holiday, 32, is a 6-6 small forward who started 40 games for the Pacers this season, averaging 11.0 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 37.8% on 6.9 3-point attempts per game. He is owed $6.3 million next season in the final year of a three-year, $18 million deal.
Lamb is a 6-5 shooting guard who was averaging 7.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in a backup role for the Pacers. He is making $10.5 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $31.5 million deal.
The Kings did not have Sabonis, Holiday or Lamb against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. There was some hope they would be available when the Kings play the Timberwolves again Wednesday.
The Kings are currently 13th in the Western Conference, two games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the final play-in spot. They have been seeking an All-Star caliber player to help them end the franchise’s record-tying 15-year playoff drought.
Haliburton, 21, came out of Iowa State as the No. 12 pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The 2021 Rookie of the Year finalist averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 58 games for the Kings this season.
Haliburton scored a career-high 38 points in a 103-101 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 29. He recorded a career-high 17 assists in Saturday’s 113-103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, his final game in Sacramento.
Hield, 29, departs as the franchise’s all-time leader in 3-point goals with 1,248. Hield spent parts of six seasons in Sacramento after being acquired in the trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017.
Hield’s numbers have dropped considerably since he signed a four-year, $94 million extension with the Kings in 2019. He averaged 20.7 points per game while shooting 42.7% from 3-point range in 2018-19, but this season he is averaging 14.4 points while shooting a career-low 36.8% from beyond the arc.
Thompson, 30, appeared in 30 games for the Kings this season, averaging 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 7:40 PM.
