The Indiana Pacers sneakily have one of the most promising young cores in the league. Led by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers have a slew of talented youngsters, including Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Obi Toppin, but they also have some older guys, such as Buddy Hield.
They have a solid group of veterans around their core. Myles Turner is coming off a career year, Daniel Theis just won the FIBA World Cup, and TJ McConnell is as steady as ever.
Meanwhile, Hield is set to man the shooting guard position for the upcoming season, but of all the players on the roster, he seems the most expendable. With guys like Mathurin, Nesmith, and Nembhard in place, the Pacers should feel comfortable shopping Hield.
Plus, with Hield heading into the final year of his contract, trading him just makes sense (especially if the Pacers could get a wing that fits their team a bit better). So, with that in mind, here are three guys who could replace Hield at the deadline.
3 players Pacers could replace Buddy Hield with at trade deadline: OG Anunoby
All summer long, rumblings have pointed toward the Pacers’ potential interest in trading for OG Anunoby. If the Toronto Raptors decide to blow things up, expect the Pacers to be on the phone.
Anunoby is coming off an All-Defensive season and would be a great co-star next to Haliburton in Indiana. His defensive presence would help transform the Pacers on that end of the court.
Plus, with an expanded offensive role in Indiana and Haliburton setting him up, Anunoby could take a leap on that side of the ball, too, leading to some career numbers.
Indiana would likely have to pair some picks and other assets with Hield in a deal for Anunoby, but if they can replace the veteran sharpshooter with the defensive-minded star, it would be a huge win.
3 players Pacers could replace Buddy Hield with at trade deadline: Dyson Daniels
If the New Orleans Pelicans are in the midst of the playoff race by the time the 2024 NBA trade deadline rolls around, expect them to explore some potential buying options.
Adding a guy like Buddy Hield to bolster their roster’s shooting could be a great idea, especially considering Trey Murphy III will be coming off of a meniscus injury that should hold him out until around the end of November.
Hield began his career with the Pelicans before getting traded for DeMarcus Cousins, but it makes more sense now than ever to bring back the sharpshooter as a complementary piece.
Meanwhile, the Pacers could look to add a package of Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, and another minimum contract if the Pelicans were willing to give up that much in an attempt to improve.
Daniels would be an intriguing fit next to Tyrese Haliburton. His length at the guard position is an amazing asset, and if given the opportunity, he could turn into a solid all-around player, especially with his rebounding and playmaking abilities.
If the Pacers are looking to accelerate their win-now timeline, then Daniels might not be the guy for them, but the upside of the Pelicans point guard could be interesting enough for Indiana to take a shot.
3 players Pacers could replace Buddy Hield with at trade deadline: D’Angelo Russell
The Los Angeles Lakers will undoubtedly be looking to capitalize on their success from last season, and while D’Angelo Russell could be a part of their plans this year, he doesn’t have to be.
They brought in Gabe Vincent in free agency, and with Austin Reaves’ ability to run the point guard position, Russell may not be a necessity. In turn, trading him could be an option.
Buddy Hield was a trade target for the Lakers a couple of years ago when they were looking to move Kyle Kuzma. They traded for Russell Westbrook instead, but why not revisit the idea?
Hield’s three-point shooting would fit in seamlessly next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and since he’ll be in the last year of his deal, it wouldn’t be a long-term investment.
As for the Indiana Pacers, they don’t have a real need for D’Angelo Russell, but trading for him would allow them to explore aggregate trades during the summer and into next year.
Plus, they could look to get some draft capital back in return from the Lakers in the deal. They may not be able to squeeze LA for a first-rounder, but nabbing a second or two would be worth it if they can’t find anything better.