After two seasons with the Indiana Pacers, former Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte could be on the move to Sacramento.
According to The Athletic, the Pacers are looking to trade their former 2021 first-round draft pick to the Kings for draft compensation, which likely means he’ll be traded for a draft pick to be named later.
Duarte had a solid rookie year with the Pacers in the 2021-22 season where he averaged 13 points in the 55 games he appeared in. But in this past season, Duarte’s numbers fell off due to an ankle injury that never seemed to heal properly. He averaged just under eight points a game and shot 37 percent from the field.
If Duarte is able to heal up and return to form, he could be a nice addition to a young Kings team that is on the verge of being a contender. They finished third in the Western Conference and made the playoffs for the first time in nearly 17 years. However, the season ended with a loss to the Golden State Warriors in five games.
Sacramento’s off-season has been busy as they just signed Harrison Barnes to a $54 million contract.
The Indiana Pacers are nearing a trade sending guard Chris Duarte to the Sacramento Kings for draft compensation, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2023
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