One NBA writer is proposing a blockbuster three-team trade between the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade involving Buddy Hield, John Collins and D’Angelo Russell:
Los Angeles Lakers acquire: Buddy Hield, Daniel Theis, 2026 second-round pick (UTA via MEM)
Indiana Pacers acquire: John Collins, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino
Utah Jazz acquire: D’Angelo Russell, 2025 second-round pick (IND via MIA)
This proposed trade can’t happen until October 5, when Russell is three months removed from signing his deal with the Lakers. Los Angeles has been linked to Hield for over two years since the team needs more shooting around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
NBA TRADE, NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, John Collins, Buddy Hield, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers & Utah Jazz Updates
“It took a third team to get Buddy Hield and his career 40.2 percent long-range knockdown clip to the Lakers, but we managed to seal the deal,” Hughes wrote. “Defensively, L.A. is going to be elite as long as Anthony Davis is anchoring the middle, but it ranked just 16th on offense with its remade post-deadline roster last year. Hield is a five-alarm fire off the ball who’ll occupy defenders and add a totally new dimension to the Lakers’ attack.”
Hield is one of the best shooters of all time. He was second in the NBA last season in 3-point field goals (288) and shot 42.5% from beyond the arc. The 30-year-old Oklahoma product is a career 40.2% shooter from 3-point land, which is good for 39th in NBA history.
NBA TRADE, NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, John Collins, Buddy Hield, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers & Utah Jazz Updates
The Lakers signed Gabe Vincent in free agency, so Russell could be expendable, especially since the lefty didn’t play well in the 2023 Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets. Russell averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the field and 13.3% from beyond the arc in the Nuggets series.
Meanwhile, Collins — who was traded by the Hawks to the Jazz — has been linked to the Pacers before, so it’s possible Indiana could have interest in acquiring the forward once the 2023-24 season starts.
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