Virtually no one expected the Indiana Pacers to land Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in the Domantas Sabonis trade. However, most people certainly foresaw the latter moving on from Buddy Hield, the other primary addition to the Blue and Gold, who saw his value with his former club dwindle over the past year or so.
However, as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Well, Hield is far from, you know, but from his in-demand skillset to his tradeable contract, the sharpshooting guard will certainly factor in to be one of the Pacers’ best assets in the foreseeable future.
Buddy Hield will provide the Indiana Pacers with a lot of options on and off the court
On the court, it is not difficult at all to list down what Buddy Hield brings to the table: three-point shooting. Already one of the association’s most prolific marksmen in recent memory, the six-year veteran has consistently ranked among the top three in three-pointers made in a season. In this campaign, he ranks third in the league with 196 shots drained from rainbow country, just behind All-Stars Stephen Curry and Fred VanVleet.
His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but he is such a tremendous boost for an Indiana team that has largely struggled to connect much from three-point range all season. The early returns from his on other areas have also been encouraging, with Hield logging five assists per game so far in four games with the team, making him a great fit to the Pacers’ renewed quick-paced attack predicated on ball movement and fast actions.
On the flip side, however, a Pacers team at full strength (a perfect rarity) could diminish his value from a minutes’ standpoint. Malcolm Brogdon’s inevitable return could push him out of the starting lineup and prompt him to settle for a high-usage bench role, akin to his Kings tenure, but his contract may be too rich to just be beneath the pecking order (note: he is currently the team’s highest-paid player).
Chris Duarte, who can also usurp him and cannibalize his niche as a three-point bomber, also makes him quite expendable. Hield is certainly useful in chasing wins, but if the Pacers double down on their current retooling phase set around their young players, he could find himself with a new home as soon as the upcoming offseason.
This is where Buddy Hield retains his value beyond the court. His contract (two years remaining after this season on approximately $39 million) could turn off more economical buyers, but in the grand scheme of things, he is an elite provider of the game’s most prized source of scoring. That alone should entice teams into taking a more calculated gamble with him and his hefty salary.
Alas, if the Pacers so desire, they could make him a sweetener to garner a sizeable draft compensation alongside a salary dump as a handicap, though Indiana will certainly not flinch hard from taking back salary if it means adding to their draft repertoire.
Trade or not, the blockbuster trade will only age better and better for the Indiana Pacers. Not only did they manage to acquire a needle mover for their future in Tyrese Haliburton, but they also have a great piece in Buddy Hield who could not only give the team some dangerous firepower in the following seasons but also be a valuable asset for the front office in roster-building as they gear up for the next chapter of Indiana basketball.