Pacers, Buddy Hield 'Start Dialogue' on Trade; Mavs' Tim Hardaway Jr. Fit?
Although things have been quiet on the NBA trade front for the last couple of months, that could change in a big way before the new season begins a little more than a month from today. Not only are there big trade situations with star players like Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard and Philadelphia 76ers' James Harden that need to be ironed out, but there are key role players who could be on the move as well.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Indiana Pacers and Buddy Hield have 'begun talks' to find a trade for the veteran sharpshooter after failing to make ground in contract extension talks.
"After contract extension negotiations stalled out, Buddy Hield and the Indiana Pacers have started a dialogue to work on finding a potential trade with another team, league sources say," Charania writes.
"Hield is open to a trade elsewhere, according to rival team sources, but no deal is imminent and there aren’t any current substantive talks with any other team. The Pacers did offer Hield an extension in recent weeks, but it’s believed their proposal did not make the seven-year guard feel desired, league sources said.'
When considering 1) the Dallas Mavericks have been linked to Hield in past trade rumors, and 2) Dallas' Tim Hardaway Jr. has been on the trade-rumor mill a handful of times over the last two seasons as well, wouldn't a straight-up trade featuring both of them make some sense for both teams?
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Hield is a better player than Hardaway is, as he averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 80 games for the Pacers last season while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from deep. He has led the league in 3-pointers made over the last five years. However, he's also on an expiring $19.3 million contract. If Indiana can't sign Hield to a contract extension, it would risk losing him for nothing in free agency next summer.
Hardaway's production and efficiency isn't quite as impressive as Hield's is, but it could be enough to make him a suitable replacement on a slightly longer deal. In 71 games for the Mavs last season, Hardaway averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep. He has two years remaining on his descending contract, as he'll make $17.9 million this coming season and $16.2 million next season.
If Hield wasn't on an expiring contract, the Pacers would be able to reasonably demand more for him on the trade market, but as we've seen time and time again, the risk of losing a player for nothing can sometimes lead a team to taking a trade package the general public didn't view favorably.
Swapping Hardaway for Hield doesn't help the Mavs with their perimeter defense, but it would give them a more reliable, less streaky shooter to plug in alongside both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. After being the worst rebounding team in the league last season, some are still wondering if the Mavs should make another move for a veteran starting center despite adding Dereck Lively II and Richaun Holmes this summer.
However, if this particular sharpshooter upgrade is on the table ... and no significant draft capital is involved ... the Mavs should take that opportunity to add Hield into the mix and worry about other needs another day.
