Buddy Hield, according to recent rumors, has no desire to stay in Indiana and would love to be dealt with before the deadline on Thursday, especially to a contending team.
Contending teams will be very interested in Buddy Hield, because if a team can obtain a player who can shoot a three-point shot at a high level before the playoffs, it is typically something they are very interested in.
While Buddy Hield isn't having his best season from behind the arc this year, he is still shooting 36.8% from three-point range, and it would seem logical that when he joins a competitive team, he will be the three-point shooter that everyone knows he can be.
Let's take a look at three teams that could be interested in trading for Buddy Hield, who was dealt from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers during the deadline.
While all of these deals may be difficult, some contending teams will overspend and will be forced to give back a big package owing to the players' salaries. Not all of these moves are likely, but competing clubs will try everything possible to improve, which might lead to some unusual deals, as we have seen in the past. In a rebuilding situation, teams will try to trade certain players for less than they are worth.
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Buddy Hield
3. Sixers
Many reports have circulated that the Philadelphia Sixers could complete a trade for James Harden before the trade deadline on Thursday. Philadelphia will reportedly have to give up Seth Curry if they make this deal.
Seth Curry has established himself as one of the top catch-and-shoot 3-point shooters in the NBA, and it would be difficult for Philadelphia to let him go because he is perhaps their best 3-point shooter. If the Philadelphia 76ers are able to do this deal with the Brooklyn Nets, there will still be a need for a three-point shooter, which is where Hield will join the squad.
It won't be easy for Philadelphia to complete this deal, given that they'll have to give up most of their key trade assets in exchange for James Harden, but there are still ways for them to do so, and if they're going to trade Curry, this is the perfect opportunity for them to add another three-point shooter, such as Buddy Hield.
2. Grizzlies
It's difficult to say that the Memphis Grizzlies need to improve their squad in any way. Obviously, any contending team, like the Grizzlies, are constantly searching for ways to improve, but they are in a unique scenario. Nobody anticipated Memphis to perform as well as they have, and they have well exceeded their expectations entering into the season. As a result, it's doubtful that they'll make any significant deals before the deadline this year, opting instead to play out with what they currently have.
From the Grizzlies' standpoint, it makes sense that they won't make any major moves since they appear to be having a lot of fun together, and when you have a youthful team like that, making any move that may potentially disrupt the locker room isn't something a team wants to do.
Memphis might also look at it from the standpoint that they are playing well and need to go out and make this move in order to win a championship this year. Memphis could probably use a player who can shoot like Hield, but it isn't necessary. Desmond Bane is a fantastic three-point shooter, but he doesn't play that type of role for the Grizzlies since he is more of a second-scoring option. Buddy Hield may be the ideal match for this Grizzlies team, and it would make sense for them to call Indiana and see what kind of package they'd like for him.
1. Mavericks
Buddy Hield and the Dallas Mavericks may be a match made in heaven. If the Dallas Mavericks have one flaw, it's that they're one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. Bringing in Buddy Hield, one of the top 3-point shooters in the league, would be something the Dallas Mavericks would be interested in.
With the open looks that Luka Doncic can be able to produce for Buddy Hield, it's nearly something the Mavs would have to do if this deal ever surfaced. If Dallas is going to want to find success in the playoffs, they have to shoot the outside shot at an average rate at the very least. If they don't hit the 3-point shot at an average level, they can kiss their title chances goodbye.