The Los Angeles Lakers are now one of four teams being linked to a possible Buddy Hield trade with the Indiana Pacers.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Indiana was finally willing to part ways with its sharpshooter after failing to come to terms with him on a contract extension.
Hield, 30, shot 42 percent from beyond the arc last season while playing in 80 games. He is a reliable marksman from three and is rarely injured – making him a valuable piece for any title contender looking to improve its shooting.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, L.A. is one of four teams to watch when it comes to a potential Hield trade.
“The Lakers were long rumored for Buddy Hield… You look at teams like Dallas, Philly, Milwaukee. Those are the types of teams that could definitely use a shooter like Buddy Hield.”
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania on potential landing spots for Hield.@BrookeFletcher | #TheRally pic.twitter.com/B1h5XxpG1j
— The Rally (@TheRally) September 21, 2023
“The Lakers were long rumored for Buddy Hield… You look at teams like [the] Dallas [Mavericks], [Philadelphia 76ers], [and] Milwaukee [Bucks]. Those are the types of teams that could definitely use a shooter like Buddy Hield,” Charania noted.
Hield has made his feelings on becoming a Laker perfectly clear over the years.
The irony of Indiana finally being willing to part with Hield when the Lakers have arguably their deepest roster ever hasn’t been lost on the latter team’s fan base.
Lakers been trying to get Buddy Hield for years and now that we finally have a stable roster the Pacers wanna trade him
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) September 21, 2023
That said, it is hard to see a scenario where L.A. gets the sharpshooter. The front office has been quite busy already this summer, adding Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood via free agency.
In addition, the team also re-signed Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura and gave both Anthony Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt contract extensions.
Based on all, they will likely sit the Buddy Hield Sweepstakes out.
The Bucks, given all of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s recent comments about leaving, might be a good destination for Hield. He would space the floor nicely and give Milwaukee another offensive threat to keep defenses honest when Jrue Holiday inevitably goes cold offensively.
Kay Adams’ dance video with Gronk goes viral. https://t.co/uS2LgYjkus
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 22, 2023
Dallas makes some sense as well, given the way defenses were collapsing on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving by the end of last year.
Philly is also a logical landing spot, what with James Harden’s uncertain status.
There are a lot of good options on the board. Where will Hield ultimately end up when it’s all said and done? Time will tell.
Related: Karl-Anthony Towns’ GF Jordyn Woods’ Racy New Photos Go Viral
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
