And just like that, the NBA trade deadline week has come and gone with blockbuster deals for big names like James Harden, Ben Simmons, and CJ McCollum. One of the most fascinating transactions went down a few days earlier with All-NBA forward Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, along with a 2023 second-round pick landing in Sacramento with the Kings. The Indiana Pacers received rising star Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson in return. 

The deal has had the NBA community abuzz over who “won” the trade, why each team decided to pursue the deal, and everything in between. But from an open-minded point of view, both teams achieved their goals.

Indiana was expected to retool its roster, starting with the breakup of their traditional frontcourt of Myles Turner and Sabonis. The game has evolved away from multiple big men in starting lineups, and while both are terrific individually, the pair clustered the paint. Over time, the Pacers saw Sabonis at his most productive last season, when Turner was available for just 47 games. Conversely, when Sabonis was sidelined, Turner played the best basketball of his young career.

Parting with Sabonis couldn’t have been easy, but Indiana got a gem in second-year guard Haliburton. He’s already shown an ability to score off the dribble with ease and flashes of elite creation as a point guard that should excite Myles Turner and all of his new teammates in Indiana. Haliburton recently generated 17 assists to lead the Kings over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In addition to Haliburton, Hield fills a vital need as a high-volume perimeter shooter. While it’s unclear what role Thompson will play in Indiana, he and Ricky Rubio (also acquired before the deadline) represent expiring salaries that will give the franchise financial flexibility moving forward.

The Kings haven’t made the playoffs since 2006. The chance to add a scoring/rebounding big like Sabonis was a big step towards fixing that. Fans might dream of adding an All-Star like Sabonis without giving up real value, but it’s important to remember that trades have two sides.

At the time of the trade, Sabonis was third in the NBA in total rebounds, 15th in total assists, 11th in win shares. Haliburton may grow into an All-NBA player, but Sabonis already is an All-NBA player. The Kings got the best player in the deal. The cost was giving up the best prospect.

Fan anxiety seemed to quickly dissipate when Sabonis scored 22 points (on 52 percent shooting) with 14 rebounds and five assists in his first game (a win) for Sacramento. They may cringe some when Halburton has big games for Indiana, but not when Sabonis is helping the team make a playoff push (which may or may not be this season via the play-in tournament).

One crucial subject at Sports Business Classroom is risk assessment. When possible, teams often avoid risk-averse decisions, but there can be a more significant risk in inaction. Sacramento could have passed on two-time All-Star in Sabonis because Haliburton may develop into an All-Star. 

But with the franchise pushing to forge a playoff team, Sabonis is more of the sure thing. Sacramento avoided the common mistake of falling too in love with a prospect, only to lose sight of the bigger picture.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have the luxury of more time to let Haliburton develop while restructuring their frontcourt a more modern style. Turner, who is still just 25-years old, will have the opportunity to show what he is capable of in Indiana.