INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 11, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
When the Sacramento Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton at the deadline, it came as a shock to everyone. Adrian Wojnarowski was shocked, the league was shocked, fans were shocked, and above all, Haliburton was shocked.
In a heartbreaking article Haliburton wrote in The Players’ Tribune, he detailed the moment he realized he was being traded from the Kings – tears and all.
For the few months leading up to the deadline, all Haliburton talked about was how much he wanted to be in Sactown. He wanted to help the city move forward, and in his article even referenced being the next Chris Weber.
And then he was gone.
Tyrese Haliburton will transform the Pacers organization
But while all the focus has been on what the Kings gave up, a big aspect of the deal that has been wildly overlooked is what the Indiana Pacers gained – Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers, who have been constantly criticized for their acceptance of mediocrity, made a move that will almost certainly improve their organization long-term.
Haliburton has shown the potential of an All-NBA-level guard this season, and the fact that they were able to pry him away from the Kings is a victory within itself.
He’s already played two games with Indiana, and man oh man are the results speaking for themselves. Is it a small sample size? Sure. But the sample size looks amazing.
Indiana is giving him the ball and allowing him to work, something that the Kings weren’t always able to do with De’Aaron Fox on the floor alongside him.
The Pacers are now Haliburton’s team, and if everything goes according to plan, they will be for a long, long time. What are some of the best things he brings to the table in Indiana, and what makes him so special?
Indiana Pacers gained – Tyrese Haliburton.</p>
<p>The Pacers, who have been constantly criticized for their acceptance of mediocrity, made a move that will almost certainly improve their organization long-term.</p>
<p>Haliburton has shown the potential of an All-NBA-level guard this season, and the fact that they were able to pry him away from the Kings is a victory within itself.</p>
<p>He’s already played two games with Indiana, and man oh man are the results speaking for themselves. Is it a small sample size? Sure. But the sample size looks amazing.</p>
<p>Indiana is giving him the ball and allowing him to work, something that the Kings weren’t always able to do with De’Aaron Fox on the floor alongside him.</p>
<p>The Pacers are now Haliburton’s team, and if everything goes according to plan, they will be for a long, long time. What are some of the best things he brings to the table in Indiana, and what makes him so special?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #1 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-441975" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1370135828.jpeg" alt="Tyrese Haliburton ready to usher in next era of Pacers basketball" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370135828.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370135828-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 11, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Tyrese Haliburton will transform the Pacers organization: Passing</h2>
<p>The passing ability of Tyrese Haliburton is so impressive that it had to be broken up into two separate sections – vision and the passing itself. He’s simply everything every point guard should strive to be in that regard.</p>
<p>Starting off with Haliburton’s vision, his assist numbers should speak for themselves. His innate ability to find teammates off of cuts or on the perimeter is nothing short of incredible.</p>
<p>He showed flashes of this in Sacramento, but through two games with the Pacers, it’s been on full display. Indiana has been constantly putting the ball in his hands and it’s been paying off.</p>
<p>Haliburton opened up Indiana’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday with a nice dish to Goga Bitadze on the roll – something that will translate even better once Myles Turner returns.</p>
<p>In addition to having amazon vision, his pure passing skills are a gorgeous thing. Not only can he find the open man, but the way he gets his teammates the ball is an underrated part of Haliburton’s game.</p>
<p>The zip Haliburton puts on the ball is astounding. Whether it be a cross-court pass or a simple continuation of ball movement to the open man, the ball always finds its target at the speed of light when Haliburton is the one making the pass.</p>
<p>Plus, this is only accentuated by Haliburton’s ability to get out and run in transition. The way he pushes the pace and finds the open man on the break will do wonders for the Pacers.</p>
<p>In just his second game as a Pacer, Haliburton put up 16 assists. Putting the ball in Haliburton’s hands is already proving to be a great decision for Indiana.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #2 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-441976" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1370135805.jpeg" alt="Tyrese Haliburton ready to usher in next era of Pacers basketball" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370135805.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370135805-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers meets with Tyrese Haliburton #0 in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 11, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Tyrese Haliburton will transform the Pacers organization: Dynamicity</h2>
<p>Not only is Tyrese Haliburton a great passer, but his overall dynamicity on the offensive side of the ball is what, in part, makes him the special player he truly is.</p>
<p>While Haliburton is fully capable of standing at the top of the key, finding an open man, and making plays that way, he’s equally as comfortable killing opposing defenders off the dribble.</p>
<p>He’ll just as quickly blow by a defender and go to the rack as he’ll step back and take a deep three. Say he has a wonky jump shot all you want (he definitely does), but it’s the result that matters.</p>
<p>Who cares what his shot looks like if he’s shooting 42.2 percent from behind the three-point line? That ranks 11th in the NBA – and he takes more threes per game than all but two of the people above him on that list.</p>
<p>And the fact that he is such a dynamic player makes his passing ability that much better. By being able to break down the defense in multiple ways, it makes his passing that much more effective.</p>
<p>Chris Paul has his middy, LeBron James is an athletic freak, Luka Doncic is as crafty as they come. Nowadays, all the best passers in the league are also able to get their own buckets – Haliburton is no different.</p>
<p>His form may be a bit odd, but as mentioned, the results speak for themselves. Having a guy who is this dynamic on the offensive end will give Pacers fans a reason to tune in every single night.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #3 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-441977" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1370135602.jpeg" alt="Tyrese Haliburton ready to usher in next era of Pacers basketball" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370135602.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370135602-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 11, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Tyrese Haliburton will transform the Pacers organization: Heart</h2>
<p>If you haven’t gotten the chance to read Tyrese Haliburton’s <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/tyrese-haliburton-nba-basketball-sacramento-kings-indiana-pacers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piece in The Players’ Tribune</a>, please do. It was an emotional story of a guy who never wanted to leave Sacramento – a city he had come to love.</p>
<p>However, if you’re an Indiana Pacers fan, make sure to read until the very end. Haliburton doesn’t just sulk about being dealt, he talks about the future ahead in Indiana.</p>
<p>Haliburton says how excited he is to play with Myles Turner and Chris Duarte. And how he hated Lance Stephenson growing up because he was a LeBron James fan, but how he “can’t wait” to play with Stephenson now.</p>
<p>But above all, take a look at this quote from Haliburton’s article:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I’m coming to Indiana to leave my imprint, and to help this team do something special. I’m coming here to create a legacy that makes Pacers fans proud. I’m coming here to be the best version of Tyrese Haliburton.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Sure, Haliburton was sad to say goodbye to Sacramento. But now that he’s in Indiana, expect him to be just as dedicated to the Pacers as he was to the Kings.</p>
<p>As great as Domantas Sabonis was, the Pacers haven’t really had a true franchise superstar since the brief Victor Oladipo stint. Before that, Paul George, Danny Granger, and Reggie Miller filled that void.</p>
<p>Now, welcome to Tyrese Haliburton.</p>
<p>He’s ready to be the face of the franchise and help the Pacers usher in a new era of Indiana basketball. Mediocrity will no longer be accepted. Haliburton simply will not let that happen.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Both sides of the Sabonis-Haliburton trade" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/09/nba-trades-domantas-sabonis-tyrese-haliburton/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/15/tyrese-haliburton-transform-pacers/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/09/nba-trades-domantas-sabonis-tyrese-haliburton/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Both sides of the Sabonis-Haliburton trade </a> </div>
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