Kofi Inkoom
Earlier tonight, Shams Charania reported that contract extension discussions between Buddy Hield and the Indiana Pacers have hit a standstill.
Consequently, Hield and the Pacers have initiated talks to explore the possibility of a trade with another team.
Hield is willing to be traded elsewhere, but it’s important to note that no trade deal is currently on the verge of completion, and there are no substantial ongoing negotiations with other teams, as per Shams’ report.
The Pacers did make an extension offer to Hield in recent weeks, but it seems that their proposal didn’t make the seven-year guard feel valued.
Several teams are expected to express interest in potentially trading for Hield, and these discussions are likely to persist as NBA training camps commence in a couple of weeks.
According to a Bleacher Report article, the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs are being considered as potential landing spots for Hield.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have an available roster spot and considering Brogdon who doesn’t seem satisfied with his role on the team, his $22.5 million salary could be used in a trade involving Buddy Hield.
While adding Hield doesn’t address Boston’s pressing need for a dependable primary ball-handler, Brogdon didn’t fulfill that role effectively either, especially during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.
“ Miami throttled Boston’s stagnant and predictable offense, and the Celtics front office has clearly taken on an offense-over-defense strategy this offseason. Adding Kristaps Porzingis at the expense of Marcus Smart (and Grant Williams) made that much clear, and moving Hield for Brogdon adds more critical floor spacing as Jayson Tatum takes on additional ball-handling responsibilities” the site wrote.
The Brogdon-Hield trade isn’t a picture-perfect solution, but it stands as Boston’s potential game-changer before the regular season tips off.
Brogdon’s demeanor at training camp, even if discontented, may not sway the outcome significantly; he could settle into a role as a frustrated sixth man, offering little in pivotal moments.
In the event that the Celtics can uncover a point guard within Brogdon’s salary range, they should consider packaging him with future first-round draft picks to seal the deal.
If such a point guard proves elusive, Hield emerges as an exciting prospect who could help shoulder some of the offensive load alongside stars like Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
San Antonio Spurs
Aside the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs are also in the running as a potential destination for Buddy Hield per Bleacher Report’s Potential Landing Spots For Buddy.
The Spurs find themselves in a situation where they’ll need to construct a coherent basketball team around Victor Wembanyama.
Currently, they have a mix of players who, without the guiding influence of Gregg Popovich, could potentially hinder rather than aid Wembanyama’s development.
While Wembanyama has the potential to evolve into a two-way superstar who transforms the way we perceive basketball, he’s not there yet.
His shooting skills are more of a concept than a reality, and it’s likely to take two or three years for him to develop a dependable jump shot, assuming he manages to do so.
“ 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 “ the site wrote.
The Spurs might understandably hesitate to offer significant assets for Hield, and Hield himself may not be enthusiastic about joining a team in the midst of a rebuilding phase. However, there is a rationale behind the idea of them coming together.
The Boston Celtics, in their quest to balance offense and defense, are considering a trade involving Malcolm Brogdon, who hasn’t fully satisfied his role. While it may not be a perfect solution, it presents an intriguing possibility for Boston’s offense.
On the other hand, the San Antonio Spurs face the challenge of building around the promising Victor Wembanyama, whose development is a work in progress.
Adding Hield could provide the Spurs with the much-needed floor spacing and offensive firepower, potentially complementing Wembanyama’s growth.
Both the Celtics and Spurs offer unique scenarios for Hield, showcasing how his potential move could impact these teams differently.
As the 2023-24 season approaches, the league will be watching closely to see where Buddy Hield ultimately lands and how his presence may reshape the dynamics of his new team.