Echoing a report from ESPN’s Zach Lowe this afternoon, a source tells James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star that the Pacers plan to keep shooting guard Buddy Hield past the Thursday, 2:00pm CT trade deadline. As our Luke Adams mentioned, Hield’s $23MM cap hit and the $40MM he’s owed for the two seasons after this would make it difficult to get value for him.
Coach Rick Carlisle is known to value shooting, which is Hield’s specialty, although his .368 3PT% is the worst mark of his career.
“You can never have too much shooting in today’s game,” Carlisle said Tuesday after Indiana lost 133-112 at Atlanta. “I think that’s an obvious fact. We’ve had our struggles this year … and so that was a priority for us as the deadline approaches.”
However, Boyd writes that Tristan Thompson‘s future with Indiana is far less certain, as the team is mulling a buyout of his $9.7MM expiring contract. Hield, Thompson, and Tyrese Haliburton were all acquired from the Kings on Tuesday in exchange for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a 2023 second-round pick.
Thompson, 30, has had the most limited role of his career this season in a crowded Sacramento frontcourt. He appeared in 30 games with the Kings, averaging 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per contest.
Thompson should have some suitors on the buyout market if the Pacers decide to go that route. Given their place in the standings, it would make sense to give younger big men like Goga Bitadze and Isaiah Jackson more opportunities.
Tristan could be a nice pickup for the Cavs if he’s bought out. A vet with playoff experience to provide backup should Allen, Mobley or Love get injured. Even if he’s not needed to replace anyone, he could be valuable in terms of his veteran presence.
Even better pickup for the Bulls. They need a rebounder and shot blocker.
Hield is only 29 and was in a bad situation at the end there with Sac. Dude can shoot. Having a new team might be just the thing to turn his game around.
His defense….not sure there’s any help with that.
Lol. Heild stinks. Also he is more streaky(then good) shooter who plays no defense. Oh and he is highly overpaid
Cool story bro
He is pretty inefficient. If he was making Curry money every team in the league would want him.
It reminds me of when JJ got overpaid, but JJ was better than Buddy.
Don’t get me wrong I like Buddy, but it’s like the argument against Tobias. Way overpaid for what he is.
If you’re the Nets… I think you try to explore a trade for Buddy and dump Harris. But it will take their remaining 2nd round picks to even attempt the trade.
Raptors would make sense for Tragic. Wolves if they want to move on from Beasley bad enough.
But with the Pacers hes 6th man type.
Lakers need Thompson.
Lakers are the buyout home or Home of Buyout.
Lakers need a miracle. Fixed
Mavs could really use Thompson
Easy enough call for the PACERS, keep Hield, it’s a shooters league now.
Assuming TT is bought-out, he can be a nice piece to the few contenders e.g. HEAT has a vacant spot, back-up forward needed …….. NETS need size.
Thompson to the hornets
The pacers traded the only guy on the team who can rebound. They may want to keep Thompson.
Thompson would be perfect for the Bulls…
Don’t worry if you get bought out. If you have a name Rob Pelinka will sign you because he doesn’t know analytics he just knows the media and PR.
Guarantee he tries to fool us into thinking a buyout guy will turn everything around. Even though his roster is putrid beyond the big 2
Tristan to GSW.
Thompson to Chicago
That’s because no one wants Hield, and they can’t find a trade partner.