Buddy Hield, Pacers begin trade talks; Top 5 landing spots
INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) – Buddy Hield and the Indiana Pacers have begun talks on a potential trade with another team, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The trade dialogue comes after contract extension negotiations stalled out. Hield was reportedly offered an extension by the Pacers in recent weeks but their proposal “did not make the seven-year guard feel desired.”
Slated to be one of the top free agents next summer, Hield is in the last year of his contract for the 2023-24 season at $19.2 million. Hield leads the NBA in 3-pointers made over the last five seasons with 1,381 and he’s one of just three players with 1,500 made 3-pointers on 40-plus 3-point percentage over the last 10 seasons (Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are the others).
There is a real case that Buddy Hield is the 2nd-best 3-point shooter in the NBA.
Outside of Steph, there are only 12 times in history where a player has averaged 40% from 3 on at least 8 3PA/G for a season.
Buddy has AVERAGED 40.3% from 3 on 8.3 3PA/G OVER THE LAST SIX SEASONS
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) September 21, 2023
The 30-year-old guard averaged 16.8 points and five rebounds while shooting 42.5% from 3-point range last season.
Although no trade is imminent and there aren’t any current substantive talks with any other team, multiple teams are expected to express interest in Hield as NBA training camps begin over the next couple of weeks.
With that in mind, here are five possible landing spots for Hield via trade.
Photo: Apr. 7, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports)
