At some point, every NBA player has gotten the same advice: be a star in your role. Some players take it to heart more than others. If you’re one of the best at what you do, you’ll find your place in the league – even if you don’t do much else.
Take Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers. He’s not much of a defender. Hield doesn’t have great floor vision. He’s a non-factor on the glass. What does he do? Shoot. Hield is among the best shooters in the NBA. For that reason, he’ll find an NBA team that wants to pay him until he’s too old to play.
That team isn’t the Indiana Pacers. Recent whispers have suggested that Hield and the Pacers can’t agree on his upcoming extension. For that reason, the Pacers are looking to move him. Could they send him to the New York Knicks?
The Trade Proposal
Indiana Pacers Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, 2024 Second-Round Pick (DET via NYK), 2025 Second-Round Pick (BKN via NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: G/F Buddy Hield
On the other hand, to be a star in your role, you’ve got to have a role in the first place. Sometimes, we see decent NBA players glued to the bench. This season, Fournier was an example. He couldn’t crack the Knicks’ rotation last year at all.
Why? Well, perhaps Fournier wasn’t equipped to play the role that the Knicks wanted him to play. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is a notoriously defensive-minded head coach. Fournier is not necessarily a defensive stalwart. Does that mean that he couldn’t find a role elsewhere?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers & New York Knicks Updates
At this point, it’s hard to say. Fournier is approaching the end of his career, and we haven’t seen him in action in about a year. Should the Pacers take a look at him?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
Sure. That isn’t the point here. The Pacers are doing this deal to get something in return for Hield. If he doesn’t have a future with the club, they might as well move him. If nothing else, they want to create more harmony in their locker room.
With that said, a resurgence from Fournier could benefit them. When we last saw him, he was a fairly dynamic player. Fournier is a floor spacer who can create his own looks on occasion. If he plays well in Indiana, the two sides could seek to extend him next summer – like Hield, Fournier is on an expiring contract.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers & New York Knicks Updates
That’s part of the appeal for the Pacers here, too. They may not want to take on long-term money in a trade where they’re sending out an expiring deal. Throw in a pair of second-rounders, and this should be enough to have them move off of Hield. Should the Knicks be interested in him?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
Hield is not exactly the type of defensive player that Thibodeau prefers, either. That doesn’t mean he’ll fall out of New York’s rotation. He can’t. Simply put, Hield is too good at shooting for that to happen.
That’s fine. His elite three-point gravity will open up an already-strong Knicks offense. Hield can play alongside anybody. This is a player who can play the two or the three. Thibodeau can mix and match his lineups interestingly after adding Hield.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers & New York Knicks Updates
Meanwhile, like the Pacers with Hield, they may want to get Fournier out of the locker room. Recently, he told the media that he feels he’s being “held hostage.” It’s time for the Knicks to set him free. If they can get a star role-player in return, that’s even better.
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