I think for the here and now, Kings got the best player in the deal. However, both teams had different strategies and I think both teams would be happy with their haul.
From Kings perspective, any time you can get an All-Star caliber player for a young promising player, a bad contract and expiring deal, you would be pretty happy with that return. Especially if you already have a borderline all-star type player already on your roster and you want to make a play odd team. Part of Fox's problem this year is that the ball has been taken out of his hands and he was playing more off ball. Now that the ball is back in his hands as the main ball handler, expect him to return to the level he was at last season and even improve on that going forward as he figures out a way to play off Sabonis.
From Pacer's perspective, if you are a team re-setting, trading away your best player for a young promising PG who has shown all-star potential, you do that trade every day. It has more certainty than a trade for mid first round picks.
I think both team are happy with their lot for the path they have chosen.
This is it exactly.
A number of us have been clamoring for a full rebuild, but since it seems Vivek has given McNair orders to win now, these moves were about the best that could be done. Fox's value has likely dropped significantly around the league and he and Tyrese weren't an ideal pairing. Given that, trading Haliburton was likely the only way to improve this team significantly and in the short term.
I would have preferred to trade Fox for Domas, but I'm guessing that deal wasn't one Indiana was willing to do because they are looking to reset/rebuild and Haliburton's age & contract were big plusses for them, not to mention that he's the type of guard that fits on any roster.
But for all the hand wringing from the media, you'd think the Kings got no value from their biggest trade chip. Sabonis is on nearly the exact same timeline as Fox, is a 2x all-star, and exactly the type of big man you want to pair with an attacking, scoring guard like De'Aaron. While Holmes was a great fit with Hali as a vertical lob threat in the pick & roll, Domas is the kind of passer and screener you need to open up driving lanes for Fox and easy buckets for shooters. He unlocks Fox's game in a way that Tyrese couldn't. I love Haliburton's game. And I love rooting for the kid - something I'll continue to do even though I'll miss seeing him in a Kings uniform - but if the Kings weren't going to go to a full rebuild, this trade was about as good as it was going to get. For all the talk about Ben Simmons, this trade cost less than what Philly would have demanded and even if the Kings kept Fox, the fit would have been awkward at best. Sabonis fits perfectly.
And jettisoning Buddy, Thompson, and Bagley while getting back Holiday, Lamb, DiVincenzo, Lyles, and Jackson only makes this a smarter, deeper Kings team.
More than anything, I'm actually caring about this team again. Definitely a win-win deal in my book.