BREAKING: Sacramento Kings & Indiana Pacers To Swing Trade

Teams have already begun making moves, with free agency still several hours away on this Friday. The Indiana Pacers will be adding to their cap space, by subtracting the $4M owed to Chris Duarte. They're on the verge of sending the third-year wing to the Sacramento Kings for a future draft pick.

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

The Indiana Pacers are now up to $36M in cap space, per @BrianTRobb

What is Indiana cooking ? 👀 pic.twitter.com/a0Z4uh6cxs

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 30, 2023

The Pacers, already one of the most formidable teams in terms of cap space for the upcoming free agent frenzy, will now be at $36M in available room, and are undoubtedly making plans to try to add some big names from the open market. 

Indiana has been linked to a number of potential free agents, and don't discount restricted free agents either, as we recall they dropped a huge offer sheet on Deandre Ayton last summer (which Phoenix would then match). 

Among the names linked to the Pacers as targets in free agency include Bruce Brown, Kyle Kuzma, Grant Williams, and Max Strus.

As for Duarte, he's a 6'6" wing player who had a very nice rookie season with the Pacers in 2021-22, with 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 37% shooting from distance. His minutes and usage were cut drastically by coach Rick Carlisle this past year, however. 

The Kings will be looking to recapture that rookie season mojo from Duarte. 

Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports