Source: Sacramento Kings engaged in trade talks with Indiana Pacers for guard Chris Duarte
The Kings could be on the verge of a trade to acquire Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte with free agency set to begin at 3 p.m. Friday.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Pacers were nearing a deal to send Duarte to the Kings in exchange for draft compensation. A league source confirmed to The Sacramento Bee the Kings were discussing a deal with the Pacers involving Duarte.
Duarte is a 6-foot-5 guard who was the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year at Oregon in 2021 and an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection in 2022. He is considered an active defender with good instincts.
Duarte is entering the third year of his rookie contract. He is owed $4.1 million next season with a $5.9 million team option for 2024-25.
The Kings already have solid backcourt depth with De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell, P.J. Dozier and rookie second-round draft pick Colby Jones. The move to acquire Duarte might be designed to add more rotational depth or could be a precursor to a trade involving one of Sacramento’s other guards.
Duarte was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York as a teenager. He played at Redemption Christian Academy, where he was rated the fifth-best player in New York by 247Sports.
Duarte originally committed to Western Kentucky, but he began his collegiate career at Northwest Florida State College, where he was named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore. Duarte then transferred to Oregon, where he won the 2021 Jerry West Award as the nation’s top shooting guard after leading the Ducks to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
Duarte was one of college basketball’s best shot makers at Oregon. He shot 63.1% on two-point shots and 42.4% from 3-point range while converting 81% at the free throw line.
The Pacers selected Duarte with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, four picks after the Kings selected Davion Mitchell. Duarte was chosen to participate in the 2022 Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend during his rookie campaign.
Duarte appeared in 55 games with 39 starts during his rookie season. He averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes per game while shooting 43.2% from the field and 36.9% on 4.6 3-point attempts per game.
Duarte’s numbers dipped during his second season. He shot just 36.9% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc while averaging 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Duarte scored 30 points in a game against the Brooklyn Nets in October, but he missed six weeks after going down with an ankle injury in the next game. He finally regained his form to shoot 41.4% from 3-point range in March before he was sidelined again due to soreness in the same ankle.
This story was originally published June 30, 2023 at 1:55 PM.
