The Indiana Pacers have found a legitimate building block and potentially even a generational point guard.
Tyrese Haliburton took the reins of the team as soon as he arrived in Indianapolis after the trade with the Sacramento Kings.
Of course, this seemed to be one of the few win-win trades in NBA history, as Domantas Sabonis was a seamless fit in Sacramento as well.
Haliburton has been the second-best player in his class, behind only Anthony Edwards, being more durable and impactful than LaMelo Ball.
However, not many teams saw his potential at first, and that includes the Detroit Pistons.
Recently, Haliburton admitted that he took offense at the fact that the Pistons went with Killian Hayes at No. 7 to fit their need for a point guard, causing him to slip all the way to No. 12 (via Taylor Rooks and Legion Hoops).
Tyrese Haliburton says it felt personal when the Pistons drafted Killian Hayes over him, per @TaylorRooks.
(h/t @RTNBA) pic.twitter.com/iNOOHk46GD
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 18, 2024
Fast forward to today, and Hayes isn’t even on a team’s roster anymore.
He drew plenty of criticism online and was deemed one of the worst players in the league during his days in Motor City.
The 2020 NBA Draft class has been mostly disappointing thus far, with guys like James Wiseman, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Hayes, Obi Toppin, and Deni Advija all struggling to find their footing or develop their potential in the league.
Haliburton, on the other hand, looks like a legitimate superstar and generational point guard in the making, even leading the league in assists per game with a whopping 11.7.
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