Buddy Hield’s future with the Indiana Pacers appears uncertain as contract negotiations hit a roadblock. Indiana acquired Hield midway through the 2021-22 season, now Pacers exploring trade options for Buddy Hieldnow actively exploring potential trade destinations for the veteran wing, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. With Hield in the final year of his contract, he is expected to attract considerable interest in the upcoming season.
Pacers Exploring Trade Options for Buddy Hield
In the previous season, Hield showcased his scoring prowess in 80 games for the Pacers, averaging an impressive 16.8 points per game while boasting a remarkable 42.5% three-point shooting accuracy. He has long been recognized as one of the NBA’s top three-point marksmen, ranking second in the league with 288 triples made in the 2022-23 season. Since the 2017-18 season, no player has made more three-pointers than Hield.
Indiana did extend an offer to retain Hield beyond the conclusion of his four-year, $94 million contract at the end of the 2023-24 season. However, the offer was apparently not compelling enough to convince him to stay. While both Hield and Miles Turner were highly coveted trade assets last season, Turner committed to a two-year, $60 million extension with the Pacers in January.
Several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed interest in acquiring Hield before the previous season. It is expected that various contenders will explore potential trade packages to acquire his unique skill set in the upcoming season.
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