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Maverick Once Offered Jalen Brunson And Picks To Kings To Draft Tyrese Haliburton
Maverick Once Offered Jalen Brunson And Picks To Kings To Draft Tyrese Haliburton originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In 2020, the Dallas Mavericks made a draft night offer that, if accepted, might have changed the trajectory of the entire NBA. Advertisement According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks attempted to trade Jalen Brunson, the No. 18 pick, and the No. 31 pick to the Sacramento Kings in a bold attempt to draft Tyrese Haliburton. They were all-in on pairing Haliburton with Luka Doncic, a potential backcourt duo that could have dominated the league for the next decade. But the Kings said no. At the time, Brunson wasn't the All-NBA star we know today. He was a promising but modest contributor off the bench, averaging 8.2 points and 3.3 assists for a Mavs team built entirely around Doncic's brilliance. The idea was simple: surround Luka with another elite playmaker who could shoot, pass, and run the offense in spurts to keep him fresh and unburdened. Haliburton, coming out of Iowa State with a high basketball IQ and a versatile offensive game, fit that bill perfectly. Advertisement Fast forward to 2025, and the ramifications of that failed trade are hard to overstate. Tyrese Haliburton is now the face of the Indiana Pacers, leading them to the NBA Finals for the first time in over two decades. His court vision, elite passing, and clutch shot-making have transformed Indiana into a legitimate title contender. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson left Dallas in 2022 and blossomed into an All-NBA force in New York, carrying the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season. As for Luka? He was shockingly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers midseason after tensions with Mavericks management and concerns over his conditioning and fitness. Advertisement That one trade that never materialized may have sealed the Mavs' fate. Imagine a Dallas team with both Luka Doncic and Tyrese Haliburton — two unselfish, high-IQ creators who could have taken turns orchestrating the offense while keeping each other fresher over the course of a season. Haliburton's emergence could've unlocked Luka in new ways, reducing his workload, spacing the floor, and increasing the team's overall fluidity. It's the kind of complementary pairing teams dream of building. Instead, Dallas held onto Brunson for two more seasons, only to lose him for nothing in free agency when he joined the Knicks. They failed to capitalize on his value, missed out on Haliburton, and struggled to surround Luka with the right pieces until 2024. Advertisement The ripple effect of that one missed opportunity cascaded over several seasons, ultimately leading to the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers. It's one of the great 'what-ifs' in recent NBA history. The Kings, to their credit, held onto Haliburton before flipping him to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis — a deal that drew heavy criticism at the time but resulted in mutual success for both franchises. But for Dallas, that missed chance in 2020 feels heavier with each passing season. The Mavericks tried to bet on the future. The problem? They never got the deal done. And the league hasn't looked the same since. Related: Tyrese Haliburton Admits He's 'Frustrated' After Brutal Finals Loss This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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an hour ago
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Charles Barkley Claims Thunder Have Sealed the NBA Finals After Game 4 Win
Charles Barkley Claims Thunder Have Sealed the NBA Finals After Game 4 Win originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Charles Barkley didn't mince words after Game 4. Speaking on NBA TV, the Hall of Famer declared that this NBA Finals is over. Advertisement "I think they're in trouble because when you have a team on the ropes, you've got to finish them off. If you go up 3-1, you're in great shape. But now, you go back, you know Oklahoma City, number one, they've got a better team." "Now they're back to their original starting lineup, which will be better next game. Then they realize, man, we've got to play our bench more, we're back to the thing that got us to the NBA Finals." "We're going to go back big, big, we can dominate them on the boards like we did, and they're going back to Oklahoma City. I think this series is a wrap. I thought tonight was a big deal for both teams." Barkley, who had called Game 4 a must-win for OKC before the night began, believes Indiana missed its window and that the Thunder now have a stranglehold on the series. Advertisement The numbers back him up. Teams that go down 3–1 in the NBA Finals are 1–36 all-time. The only team to ever come back was the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James. A 2–2 tie, on the other hand, resets everything. And with Game 5 headed back to Oklahoma City, the Thunder now control home court and momentum. The Thunder's 111–104 win over the Pacers wasn't just about tying the series—it was a turning point. Down 10 late in the third quarter, Oklahoma City rallied behind its MVP. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 15 of his 35 points in the final 4:38, willing his team to victory. Oklahoma City ended the game on a 16–7 run, with SGA scoring all but one of those points. Advertisement And he wasn't alone. Jalen Williams dropped 27 points. Alex Caruso contributed 20. Chet Holmgren grabbed 15 rebounds to go along with 14 points. The Thunder, somehow, pulled off this gritty win with a season-low three made three-pointers and zero assists from SGA, the first time that's happened all season. It was ugly. It was rugged. But it was necessary. The Thunder are now 6–0 in the postseason after a loss. Add the regular season, and they're 18–2 in such games—tied for the best single-season bounce-back record in NBA history alongside the 1950 Lakers, the 1975 Warriors, and the 1987 Showtime Lakers. Every time they've stumbled in these playoffs, they've responded with force. Game 4 was no different. Advertisement Indiana, for all its explosive energy to start the game, lost control down the stretch. Pascal Siakam scored 20, Tyrese Haliburton had 18, and Obi Toppin added 17, but their fourth-quarter execution collapsed. The Pacers had a 10-point lead late in the third, their largest of the series, but couldn't hold off the Thunder's surge. Two Flagrant 1 fouls, one from Toppin and one from Lu Dort, marked the game's physicality, and both benches got emotionally charged. Now the Thunder head back to OKC with the series tied and momentum on their side. They've won every Game 4 of the playoffs so far. They're deeper, healthier, and tougher. Indiana may still have fight left in them, but the Thunder just reminded everyone why they were the No. 1 seed. With Shai leading the way and the supporting cast rising to the moment, Barkley might be right; this series may have just slipped through the Pacers' fingers. Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Explains How Thunder Stormed Back To Win Game 4 Against Pacers This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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an hour ago
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Rick Carlisle Addresses Tyrese Haliburton's Injury Concerns
Rick Carlisle Addresses Tyrese Haliburton's Injury Concerns originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Indiana Pacers came up with a 109-120 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As bad as the situation is, greater concerns emerge as Tyrese Haliburton potentially suffered an injury in the first quarter of the game. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle addressed these concerns during his postgame press conference and said: Advertisement "He's not at 100%. That's pretty clear. But I don't think he's going to miss the next game. We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing. I thought he made a lot of really good things happen in the second half, but he's not 100%. There's a lot of guys in this series that aren't." Carlisle's comments will allow Pacers fans to breathe a sigh of relief, a mild respite given the current situation their team is in. Tyrese Haliburton is the engine for the Indiana Pacers. Taking up the role of the primary facilitator, the team's offense is heavily reliant upon Haliburton's presence on the court. The Pacers guard supposedly sustained an injury while being guarded by Thunder big man Chet Holmgren on the perimeter. In an attempt to blow past Holmgren, Haliburton is said to have strained his calf, leading to his eventual exit from the game. Although Carlisle commends the young star for his contributions in the second half, despite being injured, the overall contributions made by him are quite disappointing. Advertisement Haliburton notched one of his poorest performances of the postseason, especially considering what was at stake. With four points, seven rebounds, and six assists to his name, the Pacers guard struggled, going 0-6 from the field and 0-4 from the three-point line. The star's injury certainly played a role in affecting his performance in the game. But the same cannot be said for the rest of the rotation. Barring the ECF MVP, Pascal Siakam, who had 28 points on the night, the rest of Indiana's roster was quite underwhelming. Aaron Nesmith came up with only 14 points and six rebounds, while Andrew Nembhard dropped seven points, three rebounds, and three assists. Even the Pacers' defensive anchor, Myles Turner, was borderline ordinary with 13 points and six rebounds. The team's highest scorer behind Siakam was Pacers' veteran TJ McConnell, who stepped up to the occasion and helped the team cut through the deficit in the third quarter. He had 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals on the night. Advertisement The Pacers looked unlike themselves on Monday night, and this is not a good sign at this juncture. With the series headed back to Indiana, the team will find themselves in an elimination situation, as Charles Barkley predicted after Game 4. Although the pressure is immense, the Pacers will look to fight another day by securing a win on Thursday at 8:30 pm ET. Related: Mavericks Once Offered Jalen Brunson And Picks To Kings To Draft Tyrese Haliburton This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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an hour ago
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"A Recipe For Disaster": Tyrese Haliburton Reflects On Game 5 Against Thunder Amid Injury Concerns
"A Recipe For Disaster": Tyrese Haliburton Reflects On Game 5 Against Thunder Amid Injury Concerns originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Game 5 resulted in a disappointing outcome for the Indiana Pacers, as a 109-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder sees them face a 3-2 deficit in the NBA Finals. While several aspects of the game contributed to such poor results, Tyrese Haliburton shared his thoughts on what played a major role during his postgame press conference. He said: Advertisement "We're going to watch the film here and get better. But 22 turnovers against a team like this is a recipe for disaster." The Pacers are typically known for their ability to execute their schemes. Under head coach Rick Carlisle, Indiana became a well-oiled machine with Haliburton holding the reins. Game 5 simply appears to be another addition to Indiana's list of uncharacteristic performances in this regard. 22 turnovers for the game imply a haphazard effort when it comes to retaining possession, an atypical look for this Indiana team. Several players in the rotation were culpable for this. Although the ECF MVP, Pascal Siakam, had 28 points for the game and led Indiana's scoring effort, he was the primary culprit, racking up six turnovers on the night. Advertisement Meanwhile, Aaron Nesmith, who has routinely been a solid performer for the team, only had 14 points to go with five turnovers. Even Haliburton, who has averaged 1.3 turnovers per game this season, among the lowest in the league, had three for the game. The uncanny display may be viewed as a one-off, but given the gravity of the situation, the team will need to be extremely stringent when it comes to doing away with such outliers. With marginal errors having an impact on losing games, the team will need to overcome this setback if it wishes to keep its title hopes alive. Tyrese Haliburton Addresses His Injury Situation Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had a poor outing in Game 5. It is important to note, however, that this was very likely affected by an injury he sustained in the first quarter of the game. Advertisement Haliburton suffered an apparent calf injury and had to leave the game. Although he returned, it was evident that he wasn't playing at 100%, as addressed by Rick Carlisle as well. Following the game, the guard shared his experience and thoughts on the situation moving forward. He said: "I mean, it's the NBA Finals. I've worked my whole life to be here. I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates any way I can. I was not great tonight by any means, but it's not really a thought of mine to play here. If I can walk, then I want to play." Pacers fans will breathe a sigh of relief as the star is likely to be available for the next game. With Game 6 becoming a must-win situation, the Pacers will need to rally together if they hope to fight another day. Advertisement Related: Kevin Durant Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For Playing Solitaire In The Arena Instead Of Watching Pacers-Thunder This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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an hour ago
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Tyrese Haliburton Studied Stephen Curry's Film To Prepare For NBA Finals Series With Thunder
Tyrese Haliburton Studied Stephen Curry's Film To Prepare For NBA Finals Series With Thunder originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers are currently leading the NBA Finals series 2-1 after winning Game 3 in Indiana with the score 116-107 against the Thunder. Haliburton fell one rebound short of a triple-double as he finished the game with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. Advertisement Tyrese Haliburton's trainer showed him a decade's worth of footage of Stephen Curry torching the defenders in the NBA while preparing for the NBA Finals. Curry has inspired a generation of young talent, which has already started showing its colors in the NBA with its increased volume of three-point shooting. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated wrote about Curry's influence on Haliburton. "After two games of wrestling with Oklahoma City's defense, of battling waves of defenders that just kept coming, Tyrese Haliburton cracked open his laptop to study someone familiar with it. Few players in NBA history are as adept at shedding a physical defense as Stephen Curry, the Warriors superstar who has powered Golden State to four championships … and counting." "Early in the week, Haliburton's trainer, Drew Hanlen, fired off a file of a decade's worth of Curry's postseason field goals, a highlight reel of Curry torching defenders from San Antonio to Houston, Cleveland to Boston. A generation of shooters have been inspired by Curry. In his first NBA Finals, perhaps Haliburton could be, too." Curry's influence on young players this season can find its roots in Curry's Olympic experience in the summer. He inspired the young stars Anthony Edwards and now, Tyrese Haliburton, during this run, and instantly saw an impact on their game. While he hasn't influenced Haliburton into shooting high volumes from range, his court vision and ability to blow by defenders have certainly interested Haliburton. Advertisement Tyrese Haliburton has averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in three games against the Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals so far. When Haliburton Took Inspiration From Stephen Curry And Regretted It Earlier in the season, Haliburton and the Pacers beat the Pistons 115-109 in a regular-season game in December. Haliburton struggled that night from beyond the arc as he scored 15 points, going six of 18 from the floor and one of nine shooting from deep. Following the game, he spoke to the media about his struggles in the game and hilariously blamed Stephen Curry. "Honestly speaking, I'm probably going to blame Steph," Haliburton said jokingly. "Because he convinced me to try out pre-game naps, because I told him I don't nap, and he told me to try it out and text him after the game and see the result. So he'll be getting a text from me shortly. No more pre-game naps for Tyrese." Advertisement Haliburton found a friend and mentor in Curry during the summer. Haliburton grew up watching Curry, even in his college days at Davidson. Therefore, even when he played him for the first time as a rookie, he was mesmerized. Now, getting to call him a friend and mentor probably feels surreal to him. Related: Draymond Green Compares Tyrese Haliburton's Handles To Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
