Buddy Hield has been involved in trade rumors since before the start of training camp, but his Pacers teammates hope he won’t be going anywhere, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Hield may be considered expendable because he’s headed for unrestricted free agency after he and the team were unable to reach an extension agreement. Although Hield’s $18.6MM expiring contract could bring a nice return, Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell both told Dopirak that his shooting skills are too valuable to part with.
“I think the one thing that people need to understand with Buddy Hield — and I’ve played with him my whole career — is the gravity that he has as a basketball player,” Haliburton said. “His spacing even when he’s not making shots — which isn’t often, I mean, he’s one of the best shooters who’s ever touched a basketball — his gravity when he’s on the floor and in our stack actions and in our movement actions, a lot of times, you have to respect what he does even if he’s not making shots in the game. You have to run two at them and that kind of opens up everything for us.”
Dopirak notes that Hield is having a subpar season, even though Indiana has developed into one of the league’s best offenses. His scoring has dropped to 12.0 PPG after he averaged 16.8 PPG last year, and his three-point shooting percentage and volume have both declined. Still, only 14 players have made more three-pointers this season, which means Hield puts constant pressure on opposing defenses.
After being traded at the deadline in both 2017 and 2022, Hield isn’t stressed about the possibility of it happening again.
“It’s the business of basketball,” he said. “One thing is I always thank God I have a jersey on me. You always appreciate that somebody wants you out there. If it happens, some team is going to get a Buddy who is ready to play and is excited for new opportunities. Right now I’m happy at Indiana and just taking it day-by-day and we’ll see what happens.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Shake Milton appears to be a buyout candidate for the Pistons once today’s trade with Minnesota is finalized, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger speculates that Milton could wind up with the Bucks, considering how well he played for coach Doc Rivers during their time together in Philadelphia. Hollinger believes Detroit is more likely to hang onto small forward Troy Brown, who fills a position of need and has a non-guaranteed salary of $4MM for next season.
- K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago looks at how Coby White has become a foundational piece for the Bulls after being made available at the last few trade deadlines. The three-year, $36MM contract White signed last summer looks like a major bargain, Johnson adds.
- Finding someone willing to part with a second-round pick in exchange for Andre Drummond could be the Bulls‘ only move before the deadline, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. A source tells Cowley that teams continue to call about Alex Caruso, but he’s unlikely to be moved unless the front office receives an offer that “completely blew them away.”
Caruso not worth more than a player and a pick. So you’ll have to keep him.
Knicks can give up a 2nd rd pick for Drummond.
Alfonso : Bulls should keep ac and dru.u can take ddr.
Caruso is an elite defender on a 9 mil contract for next season who positively affects winning every time he’s on the court, he’s actually the only Bulls player who’s worth 2 first and salary matching, but the fact that the Bulls aren’t blowing up this 3 year failure shows how much they hate their fans, no one should ever spend on a dollar on this joke of a franchise
76ers will give up a 2026 unprotected 1st, a 2024 2nd, & expiring contracts of Robert Covington, & a young talented player on a possibly expiring deal KJ Martin for Drummond & Caruso
OR
Daniel House Jr. (Expiring deal) & 2 #2s, a 2024 & 2026 for Drummond
Would love to see Caruso and draft capital for Jalen Green.
Chicago sucks and feel bad for their fans but atleast a backcourt of Coby White and Jalen Green would provide them some optimism. Dumb Zach LaVine in the offseason, maybe get a sign and trade for DeRozan if your lucky.
Thunder can give up one of their 6000 second round picks for Drummond. They need more size
We can’t afford him but I’d love to get buddy back to Oklahoma.
Lakers deal for Andre Drummond to let AD be rested for the play in or playoffs Darvin Ham has AD logging 37 minutes every gm. Lakers also athleticism speed consistency, defense and attacking the basket which D’Angelo Russell doesn’t bring,but Dejounte Murray does also bring in 3&D wing like Otto Porter jr or Dorian Finney-Smith,Royce O’neal is to small another sg like Gary Trent Jr or Gary Harris sounds good if Lakers can’t get Andre Drummond than Nick Richards, or Daniel Gafford, Jonas Valencinas this not last season when Denver was the only team in the way it’s really the wild wild west with several others teams competing.
Lakers should deal for Andre Drummond to let AD be rested for the playin or playoffs Darvin Ham has AD logging 37 minutes every gm. Lakers also need athleticism speed consistency, defense and attacking the basket which D’Angelo Russell doesn’t bring,but Dejounte Murray does also bring in 3&D wing like Otto Porter jr or Dorian Finney-Smith,Royce O’neal is to small another sg like Gary Trent Jr or Gary Harris sounds good if Lakers can’t get Andre Drummond than Nick Richards, or Daniel Gafford, Jonas Valencinas this not last season when Denver was the only team in the way it’s really the wild wild west with several others teams competing.