Sacramento’s decision to swap Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis backfired as the Pacers surged to the Finals while the Kings languished under a massive, unmoveable contract.
The Sacramento Kings have made two blockbuster trades in recent memory, and Bleacher Report ranked the Tyrese Haliburton-Domantas Sabonis swap as the third-worst trade in the last five seasons.
Sacramento made the trade in 2021 in search of a center, after general manager Monte McNair extended De'Aaron Fox for $163 million over five years in 2020. He formed a dynamic backcourt, drafting Tyrese Haliburton 12th overall before making his large commitment to Fox.
The trade blindsided Haliburton, who had a stellar rookie season, earning a nod to the All-Rookie First Team and improving in his second season. He recalled the front office suggesting he buy a house, hinting at keeping the Iowa State product long-term.
Then, McNair traded him to the Indiana Pacers for Sabonis at the trade deadline.
Sacramento gave up on a talented playmaker to form a one-two punch with Fox and Sabonis in the pick-and-roll. It worked for a while, as the Lithuanian center played a crucial role in helping the franchise break a 16-year playoff drought in 2023.
That success, in hindsight, could have lessened the blow of trading Haliburton. But what followed in the next two seasons created a lingering sting.
McNair extended Sabonis for $217 million over five seasons in the 2023 offseason, and that same contract has made him difficult to trade this offseason. The Kings also missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, including finishing tied for the fourth-worst record at 22-60 last season with the Utah Jazz.
Meanwhile, Indiana prioritized building around Haliburton as its franchise cornerstone and quickly rose in the NBA rankings. It acquired Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam in a three-team deal with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024.
Siakam became the release valve for the Pacers on offense when Haliburton struggled to score. His patented spin move and mid-range jumper gave the team a reliable offensive creator it lacked since trading Sabonis.
The Haliburton-Siakam duo took the league by storm in the 2025 playoffs. Indiana's resilience demoralized its opponents, as it erased double-digit deficits easily and made timely shots when it mattered in the fourth quarter.
They took the team to the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first time since 2000. The series went to seven games, and Haliburton opened the game with nine points before tearing his Achilles heel with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Sacramento has fallen to the bottom tier, stuck with Sabonis' contract, while Indiana has risen as a top team in the Eastern Conference.
