Sabonis and Turner on the same team was not working. The belief was that the Pacers would trade Turner, but they brilliantly traded Sabonis for Haliburton. Turner and Tyrese have developed a great chemistry in the high screen and roll.Sabonis is a very good player and a really a low risk guy to sign, but I agree if you were a GM in a small market you value the guy who might have the big play upside, a guy who could run the best offense in the league even if he isn't the #1 player in the league.
The more I think about it Tyrese's closest comp is probably Nash, they have different strengths and weaknesses but for both of them it's the relentless offense they run and the decisions they make, the awareness at all times. In my opinion that Suns team was a horrific disciplinary decision from having a title too, they were championship level.