Tyrese Haliburton’s immediate reaction to the Benedict Maturin trade

The Indiana Pacers he closed it NBA trade deadline Thursday by reshaping its roster around a new anchor in the frontcourt, and making a move evoked an emotional response from the custodian of the franchise Tyrese Halliburton.

Monitoring Indiana’s trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for center Ivica ZubacHalliburton shared a heartfelt message on Instagram aimed at Benedict Maturinwhich was sent as part of the deal. Halliburton posted a photo of the two patting each other with the caption, “My bro. Go be great 00,” along with emojis and a yellow heart.

The The Pacers acquired Zubac and Kobe Brown from Los Angeles in exchange for Maturin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round pick. Trend solved a long-standing need at center after last summer’s departure of Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after Indiana made it to the NBA Finals.

Maturin, 23, was selected sixth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and enjoyed a career season in his fourth year with the Pacers. He is averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from 3-point range and 88.4 percent from the free throw line in 28 games, including 24 starts. He logged 31.8 minutes per contest and was a key part of Indiana’s wing rotation.

Tyrese Halliburton via IG pic.twitter.com/bizZkH5rLu

— The Indi Pacer (@TheIndiPacer) February 5, 2026

Benedict Maturin is joining the Clippers as the Pacers reset around Tyrese Halliburton

Maturin now joins a Clippers team that is ninth in the Western Conference standings at 23-27. He joins a roster led by Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, who was recently acquired in a special job which sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Los Angeles begins a four-game road trip Friday night against the Sacramento Kings at 10pm ET on Prime Video.

For Indiana, the move reflects a continued effort to recalibrate after a remarkable run of postseason success. The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 and followed that up with an NBA Finals appearance last season, eventually falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. That streak came at a cost, as Halliburton suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the finals and continues to recover.

Indiana enters the next phase of the season at 13-38 and opens a six-game road trip Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks at 8pm ET. Zubac is expected to anchor the frontcourt as the Pacers stabilize their rotation while Halliburton works on his comeback.

Halliburton’s message underscored the human side of a deadline defined by big decisions. As Indiana turns the page with Zubac under center and Mathura starting a new chapter in Los Angeles, the Pacers continue to balance immediate needs with a long-term vision shaped by their recent postseason runs.