Indiana Pacers

Veteran center Tristan Thompson's time with the Indiana Pacers has ended after just four games.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the Pacers will waive Thompson, and he plans to sign with the Chicago Bulls once he clears waivers.

"It was fun while it lasted," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after Wednesday's win against the Washington Wizards. "He's gonna be joining a different team. He's gonna be waived tomorrow, and he'll be joining a contending team in the East."

The Pacers acquired Thompson at last week's trade deadline as part of the deal that brought in Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings. Indiana sent former All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2023 second-round pick.

Indiana improved to 20-40 with Wednesday's win. Thompson had his best game since joining the team, finishing with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and six rebounds in 21 minutes. He had played 15 minutes in each of the last three games and failed to score in double figures in any of them, which were all losses for Indiana.

Despite his short time with the team, Carlisle provided Thompson with some praise on his way out.

"We thanked him for what he's brought for the last six or seven days," Carlisle said. "He's brought a high level of professionalism, and he's done a rellly good job."

Chicago took down the Kings at home on Wednesday in its last game before the All-Star break for its fifth straight victory. At 38-21, the Bulls are first in the Eastern Conference. Thompson will provide some depth to a Chicago frontcourt that has been thin behind former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly a potential landing spot for center Tristan Thompson if the Indiana Pacers buy out his contract.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Wednesday the Lakers are a team to "keep an eye on" if Thompson hits the free-agent market since he has "a lot of relationships there."

The Pacers acquired the 30-year-old post player last week along with Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield as part of a blockbuster trade that sent Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings ahead of the deadline.

James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star reported after the deal Indiana was "mulling" whether to buy out the remaining portion of Thompson's two-year, $19 million contract, which expires after the season.

That hasn't happened yet, but the University of Texas product hasn't made much of an impact since the trade. He's tallied 12 points, 12 rebounds and one block in 45 minutes across three appearances.

The Pacers, who are 19-40 and nine games out of the final play-in berth in the Eastern Conference, are mostly focused on the future, so it's unlikely the veteran center will play a prominent role. Heading to a contender as frontcourt depth makes sense on paper.

If he's bought out, the Lakers would be a good fit.

Thompson, who previously played alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers, could help bring stability to a frontcourt rotation that has tried a variety of players in different roles, including Stanley Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan, amid the team's struggles.

It's forced Anthony Davis to carry a heavy burden (38.1 minutes per game in six February contests), which isn't ideal for a player with an extensive history of injuries.

Thompson isn't the answer to everything that ails the Lakers, who sit ninth in the Western Conference with a 26-31 record, but he could fill one void as L.A. desperately tries to find a spark.

As Los Angeles awaits Indiana's decision, it plays its final game before the All-Star break Wednesday when it hosts the Utah Jazz.

Despite having the best record in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns were at least willing to take a trade call about star center Deandre Ayton. 

Per ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Suns and Indiana Pacers " had brief dialogue" about a deal involving Ayton and Domantas Sabonis before Sabonis was traded to the Sacramento Kings. 

Lowe noted the talks "did not get far" and "may have been mostly informal and broadly exploratory—and aimed at the future rather than anything now."

There is certainly no reason for the Suns to trade Ayton right now as they pursue a championship, but the long-term outlook does at least make it sensible the front office would listen. 

Ayton can become a restricted free agent this summer. His negotiations with the Suns last offseason about a contract extension didn't result in a deal. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, talks between the two sides stalled when Suns governor Robert Sarver was reluctant to give Ayton a full five-year max worth a guaranteed $172.5 million, which could have reached $207 million with escalators. 

Sarver's history as an NBA team owner shows he has taken measures to cut costs with the roster when he can. 

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported after the Suns' failed talks with Ayton that one league executive called Sarver "cheap" for not making a max offer. 

Sabonis, a two-time All-Star, is signed through the 2023-24 season. He will earn $37.9 million over the next two seasons combined, per Spotrac. The 25-year-old is averaging 19.0 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game this season. 

By comparison, Ayton averages 16.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 34 starts. He has evolved into a fantastic defensive player in the paint and one of the biggest reasons the Suns rank fourth in defensive rating, per Basketball-Reference.com. 

The Pacers wound up dealing Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2023 second-round draft pick to Sacramento for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson on Tuesday. 

Ayton and the Suns are looking to get back to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season. Their 45-10 record is the best in the league, 4.5 games ahead of the Golden State Warriors.    

Torrey Craig is reportedly heading back to the Phoenix Suns, who acquired the veteran wing from the Indiana Pacers for Jalen Smith and a second-round draft pick.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported details of the deal shortly before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

Craig was previously traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to Phoenix last March in exchange for cash considerations. The Suns had to give up a little more for him this time around after he signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Pacers in August.

The 31-year-old forward played an important bench role for the Suns during their playoff run last season. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.1 minutes across 22 appearances. He also shot 40.5 percent from three-point range.

He was playing a career-high 20.3 minutes per game for Indiana before the trade. He's putting up 6.5 points, 3.8 boards and 1.1 assists during the 2021-22 campaign.

Craig will likely return to a high-energy bench role upon his return to Phoenix.

Torrey Craig was loved in the Suns’ locker room last season. The chemistry was already extremely high, but this make it even better for their hopeful title run.

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 10, 2022

Meanwhile, Smith was the 10th pick in the 2020 draft, but he'd yet to break out with the Suns.

The 21-year-old University of Maryland product averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field in 29 games this season. He should receive more playing time in Indiana, which could aid in the development process.

I hope Jalen Smith gets his opportunity in Indy. He’s a good kid who wasn’t ready to contribute on a contender right away, but he was often playing at the wrong position and clearly showed potential. Wish Stix nothing but the best (which is as a 5)

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) February 10, 2022

Ultimately, Phoenix (44-10) is gearing up for another potential run toward the NBA Finals and Indiana (19-37) is starting to look toward the future amid a disappointing season.

Viewed through that lens, it's a potential win-win trade.

The Indiana Pacers are deciding whether to buy out the remainder of center Tristan Thompson's contract, per James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star.

Thompson is on the final season of a two-year, $18,978,900 deal. The Pacers acquired him in a six-player trade that notably featured two-time All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis going to Sacramento and Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton heading to Indiana.

The 11-year-veteran averaged 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game for the Kings this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Thompson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. He played nine seasons in Cleveland, averaging 9.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Thompson played an integral role on the Cavs' four Eastern Conference title teams from 2014-15 to 2017-18, winning it all in 2016 against the 73-win Golden State Warriors.

The big man averaged a double-double (10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds) during the NBA Finals and notably dominated in Game 6 with a 15-point, 16-board outing.

After a nine-year career in Cleveland, Thompson signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics, where he served as the team's starting center for 43 games and averaged 7.6 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Following the season, the Celtics sent him to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team, four-player deal also involving the Atlanta Hawks.

Now Thompson finds himself on the Pacers, who are in the midst of a major rebuild after dealing their top star in Sabonis as well as one of the best players in Caris LeVert, who is now a Cleveland Cavalier.

Thompson probably doesn't fit into the Pacers' long-term plans with the team appearing to embrace a significant rebuild, and he's probably best-suited contributing for a playoff-contending team down the stretch. At any rate, he'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Having acquired Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings, the Indiana Pacers might be willing to deal Malcolm Brogdon this summer, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

Scotto reported the belief outside Indiana is that the Pacers will move Brogdon after having positioned Haliburton as the future of their backcourt.

In October, Brogdon signed a two-year, $45 million extension that will go into effect with the 2023-24 season. Because that new contract precludes Indiana from trading him for six months, he won't be going anywhere before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

The Pacers presumably thought that Brogdon would be a long-term piece of their rotation when they handed him that extension. The 29-year-old has performed well in his three seasons with Indiana, averaging 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists.

The front office couldn't have imagined, however, the opportunity to land Haliburton would present itself ahead of the deadline. The second-year guard looks like an All-Star in the making.

A couple more notes
6. He ranks 12th in steals in the NBA
7. In 12 games without De'Aaron Fox this season, he has averaged 19.2 points and 10.0 assists

— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) February 8, 2022

The Athletic's Shams Charania and Bob Kravitz reported in December the Pacers were considering a "substantial rebuild." It looked like the fire sale was in full swing when Caris LeVert was shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

By trading Domantas Sabonis to the Kings, though, Indiana has managed to set itself up nicely in the long term without taking a big step backward in the present.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Sabonis/Haliburton trade "will likely have a significant impact" on Myles Turner's tenure with the Pacers. Rather than flipping Turner for picks, the front office could prefer to see how he fits alongside Haliburton.

The 6'11" center will only turn 26 in March, so he's not at a drastically different stage of his career than Haliburton.

Brogdon, on the other hand, might have more value to Indiana as a trade asset rather than a continued piece of the roster foundation.

The 2016-17 Rookie of the Year said on The JJ Redick Podcast in June 2020 (h/t Ethan Sears of the Indianapolis Star) he enjoyed playing with the Pacers because he was operating at the point.

"It allows me to play in my role, in my position and lead," he said. "I think the point guard has to be if not the leader, has to be one of the biggest leaders on your team. He has to be vocal. He has to demand respect.

"And that’s what I feel like I bring to the game."

Brogdon was frequently used as a 2-guard with the Milwaukee Bucks, so it's a position with which he's familiar. Whether he'd be happy to play off the ball while Haliburton runs the offense is another question.

Likewise, the Pacers may not like the idea of paying him more than $22 million annually to be a backup.

Guard Buddy Hield reportedly is set to stay with the Indiana Pacers after they acquired him in a trade with the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported that Indiana does not plan to move Hield unless something changes before the deadline despite interest from numerous teams. Earlier Wednesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the Pacers were "open to flipping" Hield before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

The Pacers and Kings completed a blockbuster trade Tuesday with Indiana landing Hield, Tyrese Haliburton and Tristan Thompson in exchange for Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2023 second-round pick.

By trading Sabonis, who was an All-Star in both 2020 and 2021, the Pacers seemed to signal they are looking to the future.

Scotto noted the Pacers are expected to trade guard Malcolm Brogdon during the offseason, while forwards T.J. Warren and Torrey Craig will be available at the deadline.

If the Pacers are indeed in the midst of rebuilding or retooling their roster, trading a veteran guard like Hield would make sense, especially since there is likely to be a sizable market for a player with his skill set.

The 29-year-old Hield is a six-year NBA veteran who has been a top-flight three-point shooter throughout his career.

In 55 games with the Kings this season, Hield averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 three-pointers made and 1.9 assists, while shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Hield has traditionally been even better than that offensively during his NBA career, with an average of 15.8 points per game and a three-point shooting percentage of 40.0 percent.

He averaged a career-high 20.7 points per game during the 2018-19 season and made a career-best 4.0 three-pointers per game last season.

Adding to Hield's value is the fact that he is signed through 2023-24, meaning he wouldn't be a rental for the team that potentially acquires him.

The Pacers have been a major disappointment this season with a 19-37 record, placing them 13th in the Eastern Conference and putting them in position to miss the playoffs for the second successive year on the heels of a five-year playoff streak.

With the playoffs likely not in the cards, the Pacers would be wise to continue building for next season and beyond by offloading as many veterans as possible, including Hield.

Myles Turner's future in Indiana appears secure.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Pacers' trade of Domantas Sabonis will have a "significant impact" on Turner staying with the franchise.

The center is reportedly "thrilled" at the chance to play with Tyrese Haliburton, who was acquired along with Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson as part of a trade that sent Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2027 second-round pick to Sacramento.

Turner has been a regular fixture in trade rumors over the last couple of seasons, but the Pacers have continually held on to him in hopes a Turner-Sabonis pairing would work. With the team in the midst of a clear rebuilding effort, Indiana surprisingly chose to keep Turner—in large part because Sabonis brought back more in a trade.

Turner, 25, has also turned himself into one of the NBA's most versatile defensive big men. He's currently leading the NBA in blocks per game (2.8) for the second straight season and has the athleticism to defend pick-and-rolls out on the perimeter.

With Haliburton being brought in as a primary ball-handler, Turner's also a better fit because he does not require the ball much on offense. Sabonis acted as the offensive fulcrum for Indiana in recent seasons, and the team surrounded him with guards like Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon, who are better served as secondary ball-handlers.

Haliburton thrived when given the chance to act as the Kings' primary playmaker, and Turner has developed into a solid-but-not-spectacular pick-and-pop partner.

While there is no bonafide superstar on the roster, the Pacers have quickly made a series of moves that give them a promising young core.

The Indiana Pacers made a blockbuster trade Tuesday, sending a package headlined by big man Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for a package including guards Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Kings are sending Haliburton, Hield and center Tristan Thompson to the Kings for Sabonis and guards Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday.

Wojnarowski added that the Kings will receive a 2027 second-round draft pick as well.

In the wake of the massive deal, the Pacers' projected starting lineup and depth chart are as follows:

Current Starting Lineup

PG Malcolm Brogdon*; SG Tyrese Haliburton*; SF Chris Duarte; PF Isaiah Jackson; C Goga Bitadze

(*The positions for Brogdon and Haliburton are interchangeable)

Depth Chart

PG: Malcolm Brogdon / T.J. McConnell / Ricky Rubio (INJ) / Keifer Sykes

SG: Tyrese Haliburton / Chris Duarte / Buddy Hield / Duane Washington Jr.

SF: T.J. Warren (INJ) / Torrey Craig / Oshae Brissett / Lance Stephenson / Terry Taylor

PF: Isaiah Jackson / Tristan Thompson

C: Myles Turner (INJ) / Goga Bitadze / Reggie Perry

Per Spotrac, the Pacers now have a total salary cap number of $135,532,248 after the deal.

In trading Sabonis, the Pacers parted way with arguably their best player, as the 25-year-old big man was selected to the All-Star Game in back-to-back seasons entering 2021-22.

Sabonis averaged career highs last season with 20.3 points and 6.7 assists per game, and while he hasn't quite been at that level this season, he has remained highly productive.

In 47 games, Sabonis is averaging 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Trading a player of Sabonis' caliber may be a signal that the Pacers are rebuilding amid a disappointing 19-36 season that has them placed 13th in the Eastern Conference.

Sabonis, who is signed through 2023-24, may be the crown jewel of the trade, but the Pacers got a solid haul in return.

Hield, 29, has developed into one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA over the past few seasons, making him a hot commodity on the trade market.

In this his sixth NBA season, Hield is averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 three-pointers made and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 38.2 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from long range.

The Oklahoma product truly broke out in 2018-19 when he averaged a career-high 20.7 points per game. He also made 3.4 three-pointers per contest and shot 42.7 percent from long range.

Hield followed that up with averages of 19.2 points and 3.8 three-pointers made per game the following season. His scoring average dropped to 16.6 in 2020-21, but he made a career-high 4.0 trifectas per game and shot 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Hield is a 40.0 percent shooter from three-point range during his career, and he should add another dimension to the Pacers' offense.

Like Sabonis, Hield is signed through 2023-24, and that is also the case for Haliburton.

The 21-year-old Haliburton was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, and he has performed well during his second NBA season, averaging 14.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 three-pointers made and 1.7 steals per game.

Haliburton played alongside De'Aaron Fox in Sacramento, but the pairing didn't yield winning results. Now, Haliburton will try his hand at teaming with Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon, who can't be traded until the offseason after signing an extension in October. 

The Pacers could still trade Myles Turner and T.J. Warren before Thursday's deadline, although Turner and Warren are dealing with injuries that could make them more difficult to move.

While the Pacers are looking toward the future, acquiring Sabonis could be a sign the Kings are trying to make a playoff push this season, as they are just two games out of the final spot in the postseason play-in tournament despite only having a 20-35 record.

The Indiana Pacers traded Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday in a deal that involved six players and a draft pick, the Pacers announced on Tuesday night. 

Here are the full details of the trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

• Sacramento receives: Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2023 second-round pick
• Indiana receives: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson
  

Sabonis, a two-time All-Star, has averaged 18.9 points on 58 percent shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in his sixth NBA season.

He joined the Pacers after Indiana dealt Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for him and Victor Oladipo in 2017.

Indiana signed him to a four-year, $74,900,000 contract extension in October 2019, per Spotrac, which would have kept Sabonis with the Pacers through 2023-24.

Last season, the 34-38 Pacers failed to make the NBA's postseason and posted just their second losing season in 10 years. The disappointing end to the 2020-21 campaign saw the Washington Wizards crush the Pacers in the play-in tournament to earn the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff seed.

That led to the Pacers parting ways with head coach Nate Bjorkgren after one season. Ex-Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, who previously led the Pacers from 2003-07, took his place.

However, the coaching change did not lead to greater success, with the struggling team sporting a 19-36 record, good for 13th in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers clearly feel the time is now for another seismic change as they trade their two-time All-Star and hope for better days.

As for the Kings, they get a proven 20-10 player who can consistently produce points and boards. Lamb is most likely a throw in for financial purposes. The 29-year-old's contract is set to expire at the end of this season. 

Holiday still has another year remaining on his deal at $6.29 million, per Spotrac. He will provide the Kings with solid scoring off the bench. The nine-year veteran is shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range on a career-high 6.9 attempts per game this season. 

The Kings are struggling once again as they stare down the possibility of missing the playoffs for the 16th straight year.

They fired head coach Luke Walton and promoted Alvin Gentry to interim head coach, but the team is still under .500 since; Sacramento sits at 20-35 and 13th in the West.

Sacramento apparently felt it needed to make another drastic change, however, and bringing in a productive low-post player like Sabonis could make a huge difference.

Only one player—De'Aaron Fox—has proved capable of scoring 20 or more points per game on a consistent basis. Adding Sabonis gives Fox a wingman who can do just that as the Kings look to improve a mediocre offense that Basketball Reference ranks 22nd in efficiency.

Sabonis could also be beneficial on the other end to help one of the NBA's worst defenses. He's an above-average defender who currently sports a positive defensive box plus-minus rating, per Basketball Reference. The Kings are 28th in the league in defensive rating.

Ultimately, the Kings needed to make a big move to jumpstart their season in hopes of finally breaking the postseason slump, and adding Sabonis can do just that.

The Pacers were able to clear out the frontcourt logjam they had between Sabonis and Myles Turner with this trade. They also added two backcourt players who can boost Carlisle's offense. 

Indiana ranks 16th in points per game (108.7) and 17th in offensive rating (110.5), per Basketball Reference. 

Haliburton, the No. 12 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is averaging 14.3 points per game in 51 starts this season. He is a 41.1 percent three-point shooter in his career. 

Hield is a three-point specialist who provides a scoring punch off the bench. The 29-year-old is averaging 14.4 points per game in 55 appearances. 

Haliburton is still playing on a rookie contract that includes a 2023-24 team option for $5.8 million. His club option for next season has already been exercised. Hield's deal runs through 2023-24 and includes decreasing salaries each season.