Domantas Sabonis trade could help Myles Turner the most

The deal Tuesday between the Pacers and Kings that exchanged headliners Domantas Sabonis and Tyrese Haliburton, among other elements, could prove to be good news for remaining Indiana big man Myles Turner, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

Woj notes that Turner seems to be excited to play alongside Haliburton. Turner, currently recuperating from a stress reaction in his right foot, has had another solid-if-injury-plagued season with Indiana. Turner, averaging 12.9 PPG and 7.1 RPG this season, should see additional offensive touches as he shifts over to a full-time center role.

There’s more out of the Hoosier State:

• After opting to move on from two-time All-Star Sabonis, the Pacers’ newly rebuilding roster will pivot its focus to Turner and Haliburton, writes James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star. Boyd credits the Indiana front office with making the right call in moving perhaps their best trade chip for a possible future star in Haliburton.
• Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle raved about his team’s new additions Tuesday night, per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files (Twitter link). Carlisle praised new wing Buddy Hield as a high-level shooter, and expressed his enthusiasm to work with Haliburton, hailing the latter as “an elite young point guard that affects the game positively in many, many ways,” he said.
• In his first season back with Indiana since 2007, Carlisle has become a key voice as the Pacers make roster decisions with an eye toward the future, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “We’re putting together a path forward that is going to be a little bit different, obviously, after, after today and tonight,” Carlisle said after the Pacers traded veteran wing Caris LeVert in exchange for the expiring contract of injured guard Ricky Rubio and three future draft picks.