At this season’s trade deadline, the Sacramento Kings shocked the NBA world by brokering a deal that sent potential star Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis.
The trade had both supporters and detractors. It was a bold move to vault the Kings back into playoff contention. It also saw them lose their most intriguing young player in the process.
Questions about the fit between Sabonis and franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox emerged almost instantly. Sabonis is a plodding big man who prefers to utilize his scoring and passing skills in the halfcourt. Fox is a blur in transition who struggles to sufficiently space the floor for a passing hub like Sabonis.
The returns have been mixed at best. The Kings finished the season 5-10 in games in which Sabonis suited up for them. In all likelihood, they’ll look to add fitting pieces alongside the duo this offseason.
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If they pulled the plug on this pairing prematurely, the Houston Rockets might be a viable trade partner.
Whether the Rockets need a point guard is a point of contention. The talented young Kevin Porter Jr. started at the position this season. He was not regarded as a point guard before landing in Space City.
While he progressed throughout the year, it’s hard to conclude that the experiment worked. The Houston Rockets finished a league-worst 20-62.
Here are two trades that arguably see these two teams fixing each other’s problems.
