Haliburton to use tournament success as recruiting pitch

Tyrese Haliburton Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrese Haliburton plans to use in-season tournament success as recruiting pitch

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 12/8/23

Tyrese Haliburton hopes to use the Indiana Pacers' in-season tournament run as a recruiting pitch for potential star additions. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Haliburton wants to have a similar impact on the Pacers as Giannis Antetokounmpo did with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"Tyrese Haliburton wants to have that kind of impact in Indiana. This is a team with salary cap space and draft picks. He knows that his team's president, Kevin Pritchard, has been aggressive this past year. Trying to chase players like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby in Toronto. Offering big trade packages for players who could be free agents in the near future. What changes the equation for the Pacers now is they know they have a pide-piper...Haliburton's mission right now is to use this tournament, use this season, to start making the case to players around the league, 'come play with me in Indiana.'"

Reporting for NBA Countdown on @TyHaliburton22 and the Pacers’ vision for a future together pic.twitter.com/2gopWv0jju
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 8, 2023

Haliburton has been a breakout star this season. He's helped lead the Pacers to the finals of the in-season tournament. He's averaging 26.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 12.1 assists, shooting 52.5% from the field and 44.1% from 3-point range. And most of all, he's doing it with a swagger that's appealing to a wide NBA fanbase.

Basing a recruitment strategy on Haliburton's rising star is smart. His ability to generate quality shots for his teammates will have other star players interested in teaming up with him. Every NBA player wants a floor general who can help them shine. Indiana's position as a young team with a mountain of tradable assets makes it a significant player in any major trade scenario. They will also be a threat during free agency.

Haliburton has been a potential star since entering the league. Yet his prominent breakout recently has caught everybody's attention. He made his first All-Star appearance last season and is highly likely to make his second in the coming months. More importantly, Haliburton could position himself to gatecrash the All-NBA selection later this season, assuming his production level stays consistent.

The Pacers are on the rise. There will undoubtedly be opportunities for them to add more talent in the coming months and years. Haliburton's presence on the roster will be a significant swing factor in Indiana's ability to acquire that elite-level talent. It won't be long until the Pacers are fighting for the Eastern Conference. Such has been the impact of Haliburton since joining the team at the 2021 trade deadline.

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