Pacers renew trade interest to bury coveted Kings player

From a fairytale run to the NBA Finals last year to fall 2-15 without Tyrese Haliburton, The Indiana Pacers are now looking for any spark they can get. That search brought them back to a household name. League the chatter says The Pacers are renewing their pursuit of guard Keon Ellis, with several teams tracking a potential move like Sacramento Kings measure your own future. And with Sacramento sliding to 5–13, pressure is mounting for a Kings trade that unlocks value before the season slips even further.

Keon Ellis has become one of the most desirable under-the-radar guards in the leagueespecially for a Pacers group starved for defensive balance. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals last year while shooting a sharp 43.3 percent from three, a mark that has kept Indiana interested throughout each trade cycle. But his role has shrunk dramatically. He is logging just 17.4 minutes per game in 17 appearances this season, a far cry from the 24.4 minutes he logged a year ago, a decline that only reinforces the Pacers’ belief that he is underutilized. Executives expected Sacramento to decline his $2.3 million option and negotiate a new contract as a restricted free agent. Instead, the Kings prioritized staying $3.2 million under the luxury tax. Now Ellis is set to enter unrestricted free agency in 2026, and whichever team acquires him will have his rightful bird.

Why the Pacers circle back

Indiana needs defensive stability. They need guardians who can survive the chaos. They need someone who doesn’t flinch when the crowd roars. That’s where Ellis fits in. He doesn’t follow the noise: that’s his game. His value appears in the small possession that tilts the swing. With the ability to guard wings and point guards using the same stubborn edge, he gives coaches a level of confidence they can feel. And that quiet, winning style is a piece the Pacers have been missing all season.

Multiple executives told HoopsHipe that Indiana’s interest never faded. I with the Pacers tied with the Wizards at the bottom of the East, urgency has replaced patience. The Kings, meanwhile, are spiraling, and their rotation choices only added to the buzz surrounding Ellis.

This is the kind of move that changes the rhythm of the season. Will the Pacers finally make the trade that pushes both franchises toward the next chapter?