Indiana Pacers
There have been some rumors of the Pacers looking to rebuild this season, but it is definitely more likely that Indiana’s front office will give their team one more chance before blowing things up in the offseason.
The Pacers rank bottom-four in the league in three-point shooting and they rank just 21st in the league in bench scoring. Outside of their starting rotation, this team does not have a lot of consistency on the offensive end of the floor, which is why Buddy Hield could ultimately save their season.
He is another double-digit scorer this team could depend on out on the wing and most importantly, he opens up the court for Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis because of his ability to knock down three-point shots possession-after-possession.
Instead of getting double-teamed every time they touch the ball, Sabonis and Brogdon could go to work on offense with Hield on the court because of the attention the sharpshooter garners.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Kings-Pelicans Trade Lands Buddy Hield In New Orleans
Finding a way to trade for Buddy Hield, however, can be tricky for the Pacers. They would have to trade away a core player, but there is a trade that could wind up working out for both parties here.
Moving Caris LeVert and Jeremy Lamb, as well as possibly a draft pick, for Buddy Hield and Alex Len makes the most sense for the Pacers in this trade not only because they would be adding shooting with Hield, but because Lamb does not present any future for them.
The veteran wing is in the final year of his contract and the Kings may actually be interested in taking on his $10.5M contract since he could be utilized off the bench in place of Hield. As for Alex Len, he gives the Pacers another frontcourt piece who can stretch the floor and they have a $3.9M TPE that they could use to absorb his $3.7M contract this season.
Caris LeVert has been a dependable scorer for the Pacers, but he is not much of a three-point shooter and does most of his damage attacking the basket.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Kings-Pelicans Trade Lands Buddy Hield In New Orleans
He is scoring at about the same rate as Buddy Hield is this season and since Hield increases this team’s three-point shooting percentage, the Kings’ sharpshooter makes a lot of sense for the Pacers at target ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
