The Indiana Pacers have been basically bugged by a lot of fans by other teams since the offseason, hoping that their respective clubs can land one or two of their prized players. As a result, two players, Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, have been common subjects in trade conjectures and to an extent, the rumor mill.
From ceaseless Lakers trade rumors to the proverbial trade machine fuss, almost the entire league has taken notice of the expected inevitability of the Pacers trading their veteran players, especially considering the play of their upstart young core.
However, the two players mentioned, while projected to be eventually available for plucking, are likely to command steep prices. And on account of their impressive play recently, Indiana will not be incentivized to yield in any way. In fact, their asking price could potentially soar.
The Indiana Pacers’ asking price for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield could soar
First off, Buddy Hield has been lights-out from downtown to begin the season, having already drained 29 three-pointers through seven games, which is second in the league behind only Stephen Curry. More remarkably, his 44.6 percent conversion rate from rainbow country is particularly impressive considering his volume shooting.
Hield will be an instant offensive boost to any team in need of three-point shooting. Obviously, the shooting-challenged Lakers are probably the most desperate squad for his services, though other teams could also line up for the sharpshooter prior to the trade deadline.
Still, while the Pacers may ultimately be better off dangling the veteran for more future-proofing, there shouldn’t be any ultimatum for the front office to trade him just for the sake of doing so. After all, his skill set has been a pretty helpful addition to bolster the team’s on-court product.
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On the other hand, Myles Turner has only played a couple of games so far, but his widely coveted skillset alone already bumps his price despite being a total flight risk. Any team hoping to get him even as a rental, after all, will be enjoying the services of an imposing, yet mobile shot blocker who can space the floor effectively.
Still, the Pacers will probably remain in testing mode with Turner, monitoring how he fits with the young players on the team as he is not necessarily too old to be sequestered from the franchise’s main core.
In addition, it’s reasonable to expect that such a long partnership could yield more transparency, meaning that Indiana’s brass should have a clearer grasp of whether he would be amenable to staying. If so, and if his fit is more than passable, then keeping him would be sensible. Otherwise, and if his camp connotes a departure, then a trade would be unavoidable. But expecting a deal for him to be a frugal expense is fool’s gold due to the sheer bulk he adds to a team’s ceiling.
No matter how this ends, the Indiana Pacers should be in line to capitalize on their veterans’ value, though the fact that their impressive play may be too valuable to simply throw away just to interject an already-clear youth movement should give the front office even more leverage to ask for more if they indeed go that route.