Indiana Pacers Receive: F Jae Crowder, G Landy Shamet, 2025 First-Round Pick (Top 5 Protected – PHO)

Phoenix Suns Receive: G Buddy Hield

On a surface level, this may not feel like a great value trade for the Phoenix Suns.

After all, Jae Crowder is a well-respected NBA veteran. His brand of 3-and-D comes with an extra side of hustle and energy. He just happens to be expendable to these Suns.

Defensive Player of the Year candidate Mikal Bridges provides much of the same value. Ditto for Cameron Johnson.

On the other hand, the Suns don’t have an off-ball threat as lethal as Hield. His 39.8% career three-point percentage will be a tremendous boon to their attack.

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It’s absolutely a win-now move. Given the uncertainties that will still surround this team following this move, they’re putting protections on the first-round pick they’re sending out. That’s still a gamble worth taking for this rebuilding Indiana Pacers squad.

They’re getting off of Hield’s money: any draft capital is a bonus.