The Indiana Pacers are reportedly working on finding a new home for sharpshooting veteran wing Buddy Hield.
It is not a particularly shocking potential move considering that they have been rumored to have him available in trade talks since they acquired him, alongside Tyrese Haliburton, in exchange for Domantas Sabonis.
The only player who hit more catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season was Golden State’s Klay Thompson, per NBA.com.
Among all NBA players, Hield currently leads the league in 3-pointers coming from an assist. He has 828 more than Stephen Curry, who has the second-most in that span. He is one of the leaders in corner 3-pointers since turning pro as well.
Each season of his professional career except for his brief tenure with the Pelicans when he was a rookie, via Cleaning the Glass, his teams have played significantly better with him on the floor relative to when he was inactive.
He is one of the most consistently available and durable players in the NBA. Hield has also improved quite a bit as a defender and is now one of the most versatile positional defensive players in the league, per BBall-Index.
“Multiple teams are expected to express interest” in Hield should the Pacers continue to explore trade options, per Shams Charania. He was considered a “positive locker room figure” for Indiana and could make sense for some of these teams:
1
Toronto Raptors
Toronto shot just 33.5 percent on 3-pointers last season, which was the third-worst in the league. They only made 10.7 shots per game on 3-pointers and that ranked third-worst in the NBA as well.
Pascal Siakam ranked as one of the leaders in assist combos with dimes to Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. last season. Hield is a much more efficient shooter than either of those players and he could help the perimeter attack for Toronto right away.
2
Houston Rockets
Houston shot 32.7 percent on 3-pointers last season, which ranked as the worst in the NBA. They made just 10.4 shots from beyond the arc per game, which was tied for the worst in the league as well.
The salaries would work for a potential deal involving Kevin Porter Jr., who the Pacers could potentially cut before the season begins to avoid paying his fully guaranteed salary.
Indiana would effectively do this trade for whatever additional assets, which are likely second-round draft picks, that Houston would attach in such a deal.
3
Miami Heat
Miami connected on just 34.4 percent of 3-pointers last season, which was fourth-worst in the NBA. This offseason, they also lost Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who ranked second and third for most 3-pointers made for the Heat last season. Hield could run dribble handoffs with Bam Adebayo, which was one of the more popular actions for Miami last season.
4
Orlando Magic
Orlando is a team that desperately needs shooting help on the perimeter. The Magic averaged just 31.1 attempts per game on 3-pointers last season, which was the fourth-lowest in the league. They ranked last in the NBA in spacing, per ShotQuality. Hield would immediately help provide that needed spark.
5
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City had the highest rate of open 3-pointers in the NBA last season, per ShotQuality, but still finished in the bottom third of the league in shot-making. He would knock down a lot of those unguarded looks if he were traded here. Plus, the Thunder have a surplus of draft picks as well as talented young players they could offer to bring Hield back home to where he played college basketball.
6
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are one of the teams with reported interest in trading for Buddy Hield. The sharpshooter owns a home in Dallas (with a gym!) and he spends his offseasons there working out. Hield could play off-ball next to two ball-dominant players like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
7
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers were reported to have some interest in trading for Buddy Hield a couple of years ago and those sparks could fly yet again, especially depending on what happens with the ongoing James Harden trade request saga.
8
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are another team with reported interest in acquiring Buddy Hield. Milwaukee and Indiana are two front offices that already have an extensive history of working together for transactions and Hield could get a ton of open looks playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
