Tyrese Haliburton didn’t see much floor time during the 2024 Olympics, and he was cool with it. While enjoying the Paris vibes, he rolled with his limited role like a pro. But he wasn’t just chilling—Tyrese was trying to recruit Team USA stars to the Indiana Pacers. Can you blame him? With his minutes being low, he was making the most of his Olympic gig by trying to snag some big names for his team.

“I recruited every guy on that team basically,” Haliburton laughed. “Anyone that wants to come join us in Indiana, I’m all for it.” But it seems like that plan might’ve backfired a bit. Stephon Marbury voiced his thoughts, suggesting Tyrese would be a fantastic fit for the Phoenix Suns on Scoop B Radio.“They need a scoring point guard. They need a guy that can get them going but can really go too. Like the kid that plays for the Indiana Pacers? Tyrese [Haliburton]. He didn’t play in the Olympics that much this year. But if he gets stronger? Oh my God, he will be off the hook!” Marbury said.

Even though the Phoenix Suns look stacked with talent—Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Jusuf Nurkić—something’s just not clicking. They’re dealing with maddening turnovers and can’t seem to create solid shots consistently. And to make matters worse, they were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. It’s clear as day that the Suns are missing a crucial piece, and Haliburton might just be that significant change.

However, adding Tyrese Haliburton to the Suns is nearly impossible due to their severe salary constraints. The Suns have the highest payroll in the NBA, with total costs projected to exceed $420 million for the 2024-25 season. Their salary cap is set at $198 million, and they are facing an additional $223 million in luxury tax penalties. To accommodate Haliburton, the Suns would need to increase their payroll by about $276 million, which would push their financial situation beyond its already strained limits. This makes the deal financially unfeasible. Also, even if the Suns are willing to trade one of their bigs, there are other factors too.

Would the Pacers Be Ready to Trade Tyrese Haliburton?

Even if the Phoenix Suns can manage their money issues, getting the Indiana Pacers to trade Tyrese Haliburton is going to be tough. Haliburton is a huge part of the Pacers’ future and is highly valued for his standout skills and leadership. The Pacers see him as essential, so only an amazing offer would make them even think about letting go of such a key player.

A trade for Bradley Beal and Tyus Jones might look like a sweet deal, but would the Pacers really let go of a young star like Haliburton for that? Haliburton’s only 24 and has tons of potential left to show, and the Pacers know that. Sure, adding Devin Booker to the mix might make it more tempting, but shipping out Booker just to get Haliburton would totally miss the point of the trade for the Suns.

Then there’s Kevin Durant. He’s a beast on the court, but he’s also 35. Swapping a young talent like Haliburton for KD might not be the smartest move, especially when the Pacers are focused on building around Haliburton. What’s your take on this?