Bleacher Report shoehorned the Indiana Pacers as one of the most hopeless teams this season, which may hold true all things considered, but the team’s situation is certainly not as hopeless as their most recent trade proposal involving the Blue and Gold.
The Pacers have been on the receiving end of B/R’s baffling trade scenarios numerous times in this campaign, but their latest one could contend for the worst yet.
In their latest piece, B/R proposed a deal that will send their new sharpshooter for an aging big man and a negligible second-round pick.
The Indiana Pacers have to gun for a richer return for Buddy Hield, if they elect to trade him in the offseason
With the Pacers still reckoned to return to competitiveness as soon as next season, they may not be too keen on moving some of their win-now commodities, like Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield. However, should they decide to double down on younger assets, the latter could the an easier choice to move, especially with the market for his service projected to be robust.
Hence, any offer on the same vicinity as what B/R proposed should be out of the woods. Al Horford is a shell of his former self, and Boston’s second-rounder, given their pegged success in the near future, will probably be of marginal value.
Should they ultimately decide to move on from Hield, Indiana should seek a quality starter or a first-rounder in return. Given his in-demand skillset, contenders in particular would likely line up for his services, especially with him logging better numbers since leaving Sacramento.
Still, in the context of this proposal, this would be an easy no, especially for the Pacers. There’s simply little to no utility for Horford in Indy, and acquiring him as a trade-later piece will be counterintuitive given his contract and age.
Heck, even the Celtics may want to hold on to Horford to not disrupt their chemistry over the summer. Despite his clear limitations mobility-wise, he’s still a useful release valve on offense and an above average defender even in the twilight of his career.
To wit, the Indiana Pacers have a very good asset in Buddy Hield. Thus, they should move with guarded aggression if they put him on the trading block, though keeping him should certainly be in the cards.