Buddy Hield is getting traded
Buddy Hield might be donning a different jersey in the 2023-24 NBA season. Hield and the Indiana Pacers are teaming up to find a new team for the seasoned player, as contract negotiations between them have hit a snag, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Charania reported:
"Hield is open to exploring other team possibilities, according to sources from rival teams. However, there's no imminent deal on the horizon, and there are currently no substantial discussions with any other squad. The Pacers did offer Hield an extension in recent weeks, but it seems their proposal didn't make the seven-year guard feel wanted, according to league sources."
Many teams are expected to show interest in Hield, and discussions are likely to continue as NBA training camps get underway, as per Charania.
Hield is entering the final year of his $19.2 million contract for the 2023-24 season, and he's likely to secure a rewarding extension after a strong season and a half with Indiana.
The 30-year-old, acquired by the Pacers in the trade that sent Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings, is coming off a 2022-23 season where he averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Hield has become one of the NBA's top three-point shooters, leading the league with 1,381 three-pointers made over the last five seasons, surpassing stars like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard.
The Pacers' willingness to part ways with Hield in the final year of his contract isn't entirely surprising. Kevin Pritchard, the president of basketball operations for the Pacers, didn't commit to extending Hield's contract when asked about it at his end-of-season media briefing in April 2022-23. Pritchard stated:
"Regarding Buddy [Hield], he's under contract for another year. So we don't have to rush into extending it. We could. I have great admiration for Buddy. There are aspects of his contribution that go beyond the court, like how he lightens up practice. But we need to define his role for next year. If we can establish a role where he feels comfortable, and it aligns with our vision, then I'm open to [an extension]. I'm not guaranteeing it, but I'm open to it."
One team that had been eyeing Hield throughout the 2022-23 season was the Los Angeles Lakers, looking to bolster their perimeter shooting. Although it's uncertain if the Lakers still have their sights set on Hield following the additions of Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince, they continued to be linked to the veteran leading up to the 2023 NBA draft in June.
If the Pacers decide to part ways with Hield, they'll need to explore the best path forward to provide enough support to Tyrese Haliburton and enhance their prospects of competing for an NBA championship in the future.
| POLL | ||
September 20 | 18 answers Buddy Hield is getting traded Should the Indiana Pacers trade Buddy Hield to improve their team's future prospects? | ||
| Yes, it's time to explore new opportunities. | 10 | 55.6 % |
| No, Hield is a valuable asset to the team. | 8 | 44.4 % |
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