The Lakers and Pacers have reengaged in trade talks centered around Indiana sharpshooter Buddy Hield, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on Wednesday during an appearance on NBA Today (video link).
The Lakers, of course, nearly traded for Hield last summer, but instead pivoted to acquire Russell Westbrook, so the deal fell apart. However, Hield has been linked to L.A. numerous times over the past month, with reports indicating that general manager Rob Pelinka continues to express interest in the veteran guard, who was Pelinka’s former client when he was an agent.
McMenamin doesn’t specify whether the recent talks involved Westbrook this time around or not, noting that it’s possible that Talen Horton-Tucker could have been dangled by the Lakers instead. Hield’s declining contract structure — he made $23MM last season but $21.2MM in 2022/23 — makes it easier for the Lakers to match his incoming salary without including Westbrook.
Hield, 29, appeared in 81 games last season (32 starts, 30.9 MPG) split between the Kings and Pacers, averaging a combined 15.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 2.8 APG on .406/.366/.874 shooting. He was dealt to the Pacers as part of the trade that sent Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana and Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento.
Hield has been a poor defensive player his entire career, but his best skill is something that’s always in demand — he’s a high-volume three-point shooter who has converted 39.8% of his career attempts behind the arc, and the Lakers struggled in that department last season, ranking 22nd in the league in three-point percentage. By contrast, Westbrook shot just 29.8% from deep last season, and Horton-Tucker was even worse at 26.9%.
McMenamin, like his ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst, reiterates that there’s “no traction” on a Westbrook/Kyrie Irving swap between the Lakers and Nets.
THT, Nunn and a 1st should about do it.
Why would you trade THT, Kendrick Nunn and a 1st round pick for Buddy Hield???????
Because the Lakers are desperate!
Tucker + Nunn = $15.5 million
Hield = $21.2 million
This would cost Lakers additional $23 million luxury tax and $6 million salary
You think Lakers have unlimited resource?
Where are the Lakers poker stocks?
The Lakers would have to add more salary.I am not sure which players can’t be traded right now.
Lakers would need to trade out at least S16.94. So THT and Nunn wouldn’t be enough. Someone like Gabriel would need to be added.
Sillyman you have got to stop using the luxury tax as an excuse for the Lakers. They’re the most recognizable brand in the NBA and nestled into the largest market in the sport. They’re also in “Win Yesterday” mode with Bron not only aging but on an expiring deal
No way I’m giving up that much for Buddy
They have no incentive to do it without the 1st
Because LeBron doesn’t want young players around.
Just take out the first round pick and that is about fair with a 2nd round pick to pacer’s instead.
My trade idea is
Pacers get Westbrook, 2027 top-3 protected First and 2029 top-7 protected First
Lakers get Hield
Pacers have $26 million cap room to eat up Westbrook contract
Or what about:
– Irving to Pacers
– Westbrook to Nets
– Hield to Lakers
(+Sharpe from Nets to Lakers to make salaries work)
Picks to be decided.l
Or alternatively:
– Westbrook to Pacers
– Hield to Nets
– Irving to Lakers
With then Pacers getting most picks.
Bogs Beverley Beasley Gay
for
RW Nunn Christie Wenyen Gabriel 27 unprotected 1st
Thats the deal I want – Utah gets to unload Gays 2024 unwanted option (6.7 mill)
Gets Christie
27 unprotected 1st
And possibly saves 5 mill on a b/o if Rw accepts this year- *Salaries above match within a mill both ways
Buddy Hield is a fit with the Lakers, but he is no difference-maker in the lineup. He only converted 36% of his 3s last year, and is one of the worst defensive guards in the NBA. He doesn’t make the Lakers any better.
Hield has been an elite volume shooter his entire career. 36% is still good at that volume and he showed some serious playmaking ability with Pacers
Strongly disagree. He’ll be given easy opportunities as a spot shooter. Sure his defense will suffer but say he plays 30mpg and is supported by good help defenders, he’ll look better than he actually is. He fits well. He may have to play primarily without Westbrook as that’ll hurt the team defense. But I think Pacers see that there isn’t a good market for Hield, and the Lakers have the most urgency. THT is overvalued but if he plays better then you flip him. Nunn has more likelihood to have a buyer once he shows he can stay healthy. I’d say Dallas could be a better fit, as they have good defensive schemes which could hide Hield, and need they need scoring
@Very
If he’s replacing THT the of course he’s an improvement even if it’s just on 1 side of the ball. He’s no better defensively than THR but he’s a huge improvement as a high volume 3pt shooter.
You’re obviously overrating THT and undervaluing what the Lakers need the most besides defense and that is shooting!
@very barry
“Hield Not a difference maker at 36%.”
Hield 36% on 3 and one of the top 5 volume in the entire nba. Curry tops volume at 38%.
Doncic 34%
Just what is your measure of a “good” player? I need to quit reading comments
Agree, I {think} they are just putting this out there to try and spur Utah, Cha, or Brk into some movement if possible –
Never liked the Indy link for Lal – As Dxc points out below this could be Jeanie cheapin out tho and trying to get Heild for just a 2nd- In which case the package is prolly THT Nunn and Stanley J + 2nd – Schroeder recently said he was interested for min in La again to fill Nunns departure if so(Tristain Thompson for SJ) …still don’t like it for LAl as Heild basically takes away open cap next year when it could play BIG
Did you watch Pacers ball last year? Only other bucket was Reese. Of course Buddys numbers were down
If there’s a 1st round pick involved in a Hield deal it will be going to the team taking him. My guess is that the LAL are looking at him as a guy they can acquire without giving up a 1st.
This is fun for the lakers
Trades I’d love to see happen before the season starts:
1. Lakers join Donovan Mitchell deal
Lakers- Pat Beverly, Bojan Bogdanovic and Evan Fouriner
Knicks- Donovan Mitchell
Jazz- Russ, Obi Toppin, Miles McBride, Immanuel Quickly, Max Christie and 6 first round picks.
(5 from Knicks and 1 from Lakers)
Lakers get a fresh start with fresh players.
Knicks finally get a real superstar.
Jazz go full scale rebuild and have a lot of young players and picks.
2. Kyrie to Miami
Heat- Kyrie Irving and Royce ONeale
Nets- Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jobic and 2 first round picks.
All in move by the Heat after missing on Donovan and KD. Kyrie Oladipo Butler ONeale Bam make a very strong side.
Net cash in on Kyrie by getting back picks. Lowry is a decent player, Robinson is a 3 and D wing and Jovic is a good prospect. However wouldn’t be surprised to see them trade Lowry in another move.
3. Sixers fans dream
Sixers- Harrison Barnes and Eric Gordon
Kings- Tobias Harris and a first round pick
Rockets- Richaun Holmes, Mattise Thybulle and 2 seconds
Sixers now have a set and solid starting 5 plus good depth. Maxey Harden Barnes Tucker Embiid and Melton Gordon House Niang and ….
Kings get Harris and a first for Barnes and Holmes not a bad move on their part really. Have had interest in Harris for a while.
Rockets get a reserve big man in Holmes and a solid defender in Thybulle plus picks for Gordon.
Lakers have a strong enough team for not only a playoff push but finish 5th in the west. Knicks have an up and down season but just squeeze into the playoffs. Utah makes more trades and gets more picks and finish with a top 3 pick in the draft.
Miami finish 3rd in the east and enter the post season as a true title contender and make a very strong finals run. Brooklyn lose the plot and sack the GM and Coach, KD tries to force his way out and will eventually be dealt but overall they plan to build around Simmons and will be fine.
Sixers have a great season and finish 2nd in the east and look set for big playoff run.
Kings surprise a few people and make the play in and win to make the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. Rockets continue the rebuild and look promising at times but still to early and too young. Finish with another top 10 pick
Duncan Robinson aint no 3 and D player. He’s a great shooter that went from starting SF to DNP because of his defensive shortcomings
1. I don’t think the Jazz go for that.
2. Heat haven’t ever been rumored to even want Kyrie. His personality might be too strong for a young team. Butler and Lowry might not want to deal with his drama.
3. Harris isn’t any better than Harrison. Plus, he has less of an attitude. Holmes is more valuable than a late first round pick.
1. Jazz might want back another pick but it’s what they wanted from the Knicks for Mitchell.
2. Heat have been linked you just haven’t seen the stories. Butler in particular has been making noise they are fitness from their time at team USA together and playing lots of 1v1s.
3. Holmes really ain’t that valuable and Tobias is slightly better than Barnes.
Ben- Why do you think Utah is trying to compete 2023 if they are putting DM on the market? You seem to be a Utah fan and that’s cool but no full embrace on the rebuild? I mean what Russ is laying out is Rebuild 101 stuff here
Im not sure DM moves but if he does what’s the point of having Bogs Beasley and Beverely expire a Jazz?
Lakers: hey we want buddy heild and miles turner
Pacers: what can you give us?
Lakers: Westbrook
Pacers: click
I love a buddy
So Pelinka doesn’t want to take on joe Harris contract at 19 million but he will take on Hields 21+ million. This is why Pelinka needs to be fired. Kyrie, Harris and pick for wesrbrook. How hard is that for him to comprehend. Hield has never even sniffed winning. Harris, kyrie, lebron, ad and bryant is actually not bad starting 5. Don’t know why Pelinka is so concerned with the pick.he gave them out like candy to get schroder and Westbrook. Pelinka shouldn’t care for picks as he will get fired if they don’t contend next year
Pelinka sucks but that deal isn’t done because the nets say no to it
Sooo I guess the Lakers are out on Kyrie? Or are they just trying to bait the Nets into re-engaging them?
Lakers out here acting like Russ or THT have any significant trade value. Nobody wants to touch Russ’s contract without a first round pick being attached. Nets have no incentive to do a Russ for Kyrie deal unless they get a sweetner or can find another taker for Russ.
Realistically the only thing THT has got going for him right now is that he’s still young, but he’s coming off a poor season which means his value tilts slightly more towards “reclamation project” rather than “blue chip headliner”. His contract has risky value too. Player option for 2023-24 so he could walk in a year meaning your headliner could be a one year rental if he plays well enough. And if he plays poorly enough, you’re probably looking for ways to move his $11m player option when he picks it up in this scenario. Nunn is just salary filler at this point so including him hardly moves the needle.
Unless a third team gets involved or the Lakers show a willingness to move picks they haven’t been interested in moving, I don’t see Indy moving Turner and Hield to LAL in the same deal. Even in a deal just for Hield, I don’t think Indy is in a rush to move him. They’ve already moved Brogdan and have the $30 million-ish in cap space they cleared when they gave Ayton that offer sheet. Is Buddy currently worth a 1st round pick? Probably not. But if we assume the Pacers are hoping for a first rounder or young player back, then no reason to throw another team a bone and take a meh deal. I don’t think Buddy’s trade value can go down too much further short of some catastrophic injury. If he plays well this season, he potentially becomes a trade chip at the deadline for a team looking for shooting or a 6th man type. If he plays poorly, I don’t think his value will take that big of a hit because of his de-escalating salary and with him being a UFA in 2024-25, his salary could be used as a filler/makeweight next offseason.
The Lakers live in fantasy land if they don’t give up picks to get players.
Never hurts to ask. Pelinka and James Jones have a lot in common.
Only way this makes any sense for them is if they’re using 1 or both of Nunn and Lonnie Walker in this deal…
They dont need more guards. This is comical at this point
The Lakers FO reminds me of the Underpants Gnomes
Step One: Collect Buddy Hield
Step Two: ??????????
Step Three: Championship!