Last week, it became known that the Indiana Pacers were looking to trade veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield after they were unable to agree with him on a contract extension.
Hield, whom they acquired midway through the 2021-22 season from the Sacramento Kings, is entering the final year of his contract. While he would be a nice piece for a promising Pacers team to keep, he would also represent a nice piece for a number of other teams that are looking to elevate themselves.
One possible destination for him that has been mentioned is the San Antonio Spurs, a dormant franchise that has been suddenly roused from its slumber by the arrival of 7-foot-4 generational prospect Victor Wembanyama.
“The Spurs are eventually going to have to build a functional basketball team around Victor Wembanyama,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway. “Right now, they’re a mismatched collection of players who would do more harm than help for Wembanyama’s development if it weren’t for the guiding hand of Gregg Popovich behind the scenes.
“… As it stands, San Antonio is surrounding its non-shooter future superstar with a roster full of mediocre-at-best floor spacers—the exact type of players who will limit his offensive freedom as he develops. Adding Hield to the mix would give the Spurs at least one elite shooter who creates gravity and potentially two when he shares the floor with Doug McDermott.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Right now, the Spurs are basically on the ground floor of a rebuilding process, unlike where they were when Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan were rookies. Making the playoffs may be unrealistic for them this season, with or without Hield, but perhaps Hield could help them compete for a play-in tournament spot while at least giving them the appearance of a competitive team that is heading in the right direction.
Hield has been one of the NBA’s top 3-point shooters over the last few years, both in terms of accuracy and volume. He attempted 8.6 treys a game last season, making 42.5 percent of them, and overall he put in 16.8 points per contest.
At age 30, he may not be a true long-term solution for San Antonio, but perhaps he would stick around long enough to contribute to its first leg of success with Wembanyama.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Such a deal would be a low-cost way for the Spurs to bring aboard Hield. He could help ease Wembanyama’s development by aiding to keep the paint open for him and dissuade opponents from helping on him. In addition, his ability to score off the dribble at times would take the pressure off the big man as far as carrying the once-great franchise right away.
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