Trade Deadline Redirect? Hield Could Still End Up with Mavs
With less than 30 hours to go until the NBA trade deadline buzzer, the Dallas Mavericks are still working the phones trying to find reasonable deals to upgrade their roster. After being traded to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, could Buddy Hield end up being redirected to the Mavs before Thursday’s deadline?
"The [Indiana] Pacers are open to flipping Buddy Hield to another team before the deadline,” reports HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
According to a separate report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Mavs were 'in at the 11th hour' in pursuit of a trade with the Indiana Pacers to acquire Caris LeVert. The Cleveland Cavaliers ended up getting a deal done—sending Ricky Rubio's expiring contract, a 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks.
Those talks with Indiana reportedly revolved around Tim Hardaway Jr. and a pick. We don’t know if it was a first-round or a second-round pick that was offered, but if the Mavs were serious about getting LeVert while also getting off of Hardaway Jr.’s contract, one would think - or hope - that it was indeed a first-rounder.
Would that same type of team be enough for the Mavs to snag Hield, who is a career 40 percent three-point shooter and the all-time three-point leader in Sacramento Kings history? With the Pacers’ backcourt of the future being set with Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte, we believe a deal for Hield is very doable for Dallas before the deadline.
Although the Mavs are on a three-game winning streak and getting inspired play from Reggie Bullock in Hardaway Jr.’s absence, Dallas could still use some three-point shooting help mixed in with their great team defense. Hield is not a good defender, but he’s sniper on offense, and playing alongside Luka Doncic will result in many open looks.
Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for all updates as the Mavs get closer to the deadline.
