It was recently reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic that the Indiana Pacers are starting the process of finding a trade for Buddy Hield. The decision follows contract extension negotiations, which ultimately broke down.
Now, the Pacers will enter the season seeking a trade for the three-point sharpshooter, who is one of the best marksmen in the league and entering the final year of his contract on a roughly $19.3 million salary.
With Tyrese Haliburton at the helm, the Pacers are capable of being competitive right now, but with him being just 23 years old, they need to worry about the future, too. And Haliburton is their future.
Keeping that in mind, here are five Hield trades the Pacers must consider to build around Haliburton and give him the best possible chance to win a title in Indiana.
5 Buddy Hield trades to help the Pacers build around Tyrese Haliburton: OG Anunoby
This trade concept has been discussed ad nauseam, as it was revealed earlier this summer that the Indiana Pacers showed an interest in a potential OG Anunoby trade with the Toronto Raptors.
Adding Anunoby to the squad would give the Pacers an amazing infrastructure moving forward, as the 25-year-old forward would greatly raise their defensive ceiling.
Fresh off a selection to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, the pairing of Anuoby and Myles Turner would wreak havoc on opponents, giving the Pacers an edge on that end. Plus, Anuoby still has room to grow as an offensive talent, especially with Haliburton by his side.
For the Raptors, this trade would be a way of beginning a much-needed rebuild, as they would get multiple first-rounders back, as well as an expiring contract.
Potential starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Bruce Brown, OG Anunoby, Jarace Walker, Myles Turner
5 Buddy Hield trades to help the Pacers build around Tyrese Haliburton: Cole Anthony
If the Orlando Magic decide they want to push for the playoffs next year, then adding three-point shooting is a must. And they’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than Buddy Hield.
Orlando already added Joe Ingles this summer to give them some shooting and a veteran presence, but Hield could take them to the next level. Meanwhile, the Pacers would get future assets and a young guard to help Tyrese Haliburton moving forward.
Cole Anthony would be a nice bench piece for Haliburton and this Pacers squad as they prepare to compete for the playoffs heading into the future, and Gary Harris would be a decent 3-and-D presence.
While the Pacers already have a solid guard rotation, adding Anthony to the mix would give them the type of player who can explode for a big game off the bench at any time. Their Lou Williams, so to speak.
On the flip side, the Magic would get one of the best three-point shooters in the business to roll out next to their young star duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Throw in the first-round pick to the Pacers, and they’d not only have a nice player to roll with but also an asset to use in a future move.
Potential starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Bruce Brown, Jarace Walker, Myles Turner
5 Buddy Hield trades to help the Pacers build around Tyrese Haliburton: Tobias Harris
Like OG Anunoby, Tobias Harris was linked to the Indiana Pacers earlier this offseason as a potential player of interest, and this deal could make sense for the Philadelphia 76ers if things don’t go their way.
At first glance, this doesn’t seem like the type of trade that would help the Pacers build around Haliburton, but it would definitely give him a better chance to win.
Harris has been thrown to the wolves due to his large contract, but he’s heading into the final year of his deal and is actually a solid player. Get him on a reasonable contract, and he’d be a great asset.
The 31-year-old will probably be playing for his final real NBA contract next year, but if the Pacers want to build an ideal team around Haliburton, Harris fits that mold.
He’s got the perfect physical tools, he’s an underrated scorer, and he would be a great second or third option next to Haliburton and Myles Turner for the next few years, especially when paid correctly.
As for the 76ers, this deal would only make sense if they end up losing James Harden. If that becomes a reality, then flipping Harris into some better depth pieces would be a smart move, and Buddy Hield could slide in at the two-guard spot next to Tyrese Maxey.
Having his shooting next to Joel Embiid would make for a deadly combination, TJ McConnell would make his return to Philadelphia, and Daniel Theis could act as a solid rotation big or, at worst, a very tradable contract in aggregate deals.
Potential starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Bruce Brown, Tobias Harris, Myles Turner
5 Buddy Hield trades to help the Pacers build around Tyrese Haliburton: Dyson Daniels
If the Indiana Pacers want to take a chance on a future piece, look no further than Dyson Daniels, as the New Orleans Pelicans could be interested in a Buddy Hield trade.
Despite not earning much playing time last year, Daniels is oozing potential. He’s not the best three-point shooter, but he does everything else on the court very well.
Given the right opportunities, Daniels could turn into an intriguing backcourt partner for Tyrese Haliburton. He’s 6-foot-8, is a solid rebounder for his position, and has the chops to be a good playmaker, too.
As long as he can continue to improve on the defensive end, nabbing him and a first-round pick in exchange for Hield would be a huge win for Indiana.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans would be adding one of the best three-point shooters in the league to an offense that ranked second-to-last in three-point attempts last year.
Having Hield in the rotation would take a ton of pressure off of Brandon Ingram, a mid-range heavy scorer, and Zion Williamson, an interior force. He would especially help now that Trey Murphy III.
Giving up a first-round pick wouldn’t even be a huge issue for the Pelicans, as they own a ton of picks from other teams, so this would be a nice trade for everyone involved.
Potential starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Dyson Daniels, Bruce Brown, Jarace Walker, Myles Turner
5 Buddy Hield trades to help the Pacers build around Tyrese Haliburton: Tyler Herro
The current state of the Damian Lillard trade saga could leave the Indiana Pacers with an opening to pair Tyrese Haliburton with a 23-year-old star whose value is unfairly at an all-time low.
Trail Blazers receive: Buddy Hield, Kyle Lowry, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Two first-round picks (via MIA), Two first-round swaps (via MIA), One first-round pick (via IND)
Due to the Miami Heat’s playoff success without him on the roster, people have begun looking at Herro as a negative asset, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, the young star is an efficient scorer capable of handling the ball who would be an ideal fit next to Halibruton and the rest of Indiana’s core pieces. Plus, at just 23 years old, he would have plenty of time to grow with Haliburton in Indiana.
The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly been unwilling to take on Herro’s contract, so Indiana would be giving up a first-round pick to take him off their hands while they would be getting two expiring deals in the trade.
Meanwhile, the Heat would get the guy they’ve been longing for all summer while also adding some useful depth at the point guard position in the form of TJ McConnell.
All in all, this is a pretty cheap price to pay for a potential All-Star who is just one year removed from taking home the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Potential starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Tyler Herro, Bruce Brown, Jarace Walker, Myles Turner