Fundamentally speaking, shooting is the most important skill in basketball. Yes, there are plenty of other abilities that matter in the game, but shooting comes first. NBA teams know this. It’s exactly why they’re willing to pay a premium for elite shooters.
Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers is one of the best shooters in the league. He can shoot off the catch or the dribble. Hield can knock down his shot no matter how tightly he’s contested. Year in and year out, Hield is among the league’s leaders in both three-point volume and efficiency.
Apparently, the Indiana Pacers are going to be trading him anyway. Hield will be due for an extension this summer. It seems like Hield and the Pacers can’t reach an agreement on what his dollar value ought to be. Could the Orlando Magic be willing to pay him?
The Trade Proposal
Indiana Pacers Receive: F/C Jonathan Isaac, 2025 First-Round Pick (Top 5 Protected – DEN via ORL)
Orlando Magic Receive: G/F Buddy Hield
Shooting may be the most important skill in the league. Does that mean teams should overpay for shooting specialists? That can end up being a regrettable decision. After all, shooting isn’t only important – it’s among the most volatile skills in the NBA as well.
Sure, a player may shoot 40% or higher from deep in a given season. What if they regress after getting paid? It’s worth noting that the margins in shooting percentages are razor-thin. The difference between a 40% shooter and a 35% shooter is vast. For that reason, many a shooting specialist has led a team to regret their investment in him.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Orlando Magic & Indiana Pacers Updates
The Magic don’t need to worry about that with Hield. He’s consistent – his next prolonged shooting slump would be his first one. Still, moving a first-round pick is a risky proposition for a young team like Orlando. Is it worth it?
Why The Orlando Magic Do The Deal
A lot of teams around the NBA need shooting. Realistically, any team could use an elite shooter. Still, some teams need shooting more than others. It just so happens that the Orlando Magic are one of those teams.
Look at this roster. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are both dynamic jumbo playmakers who should be surrounded by spacing. The same goes for Anthony Black. More broadly, the Magic have a lot of talented young guards who can do a bit of everything – besides shoot. Orlando needs to upgrade their floor spacing.
Why not add one of the best shooters in the NBA? Meanwhile, Orlando is likely ready to give up on the oft-injured Isaac anyway. Parting with a lightly protected pick hurts, but at the same time, Orlando has enough young talent anyway. If this organization wants to take a step forward, adding Hield would be a sensible addition. Should the Pacers part with him?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
Well, they virtually have to. The Pacers can’t hang onto Hield. If these two sides can’t agree on an extension, the Pacers need to move Hield before he walks for nothing in free agency. This feels like an appropriate return.
For what it’s worth, the Pacers have been linked to countless 4s this summer. Why not take a flier on Isaac? Yes, he’s a fixture on the injury report. If he can get healthy, Isaac is an elite defensive player. He can guard the perimeter and the interior. At the same time, the Pacers don’t do this deal for Isaac – they do it for the pick.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Orlando Magic & Indiana Pacers Updates
The Magic may be ready to take a step forward. By contrast, the Pacers are at a crossroads. If this team wants to prioritize the future, they’ll like this deal. Since it belongs to the Nuggets, it will almost certainly convey. If everything goes well, the Pacers could end up drafting a shooter with this selection.
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