Indiana Pacers agree to trade Buddy Hield to Philadelphia 76ers for multiple players and draft picks
The Indiana Pacers are trading guard Buddy Hield to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package that includes multiple second-round draft picks, per league sources.
Hield, 31, is averaging 12.0 points per game for the Pacers this season. His outside shooting routinely changes games, though he is a below-average defender. He's been an effective player for Indiana for much of his tenure with the franchise, which began at the trade deadline in 2022 when he was sent over from the Sacramento Kings.
Hield's contract expires at the end of the current season, so the blue and gold had to consider his long-term future with the franchise. If he wasn't willing to extend his deal, which didn't happen before the season, then Indiana had to think about moving him even if it hurts the team in the current season. Hield's role has shrunk in recent weeks — he's averaged fewer than 24 minutes per game over his last seven outings and just 24.4 minutes per game since the new year.
Andrew Nembhard has started at shooting guard for the Pacers of late with Tyrese Haliburton, T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin filling out roles on the perimeter.
In exchange for Hield, the Pacers are receiving Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, and three second-round draft picks from Philadelphia. Those second-round picks are as follows, a league source told AllPacers:
- 2024 second-round pick (best of Toronto and (best of Indiana and (worst of Utah and Cleveland))). As of trade deadline day, that pick sits at 36 and will most likely be the Raptors second-round selection by the time the season ends.
- 2029 second-round pick via LA Clippers.
- 2029 second-round pick via Portland Trail Blazers.
Getting a strong, soon-to-come second rounder and two potentially solid ones makes sense for Indiana as a return for an expiring contract, though giving up a rotation player in the middle of a playoff push will hurt for the rest of this season. Hield has knocked down 38.4% of his outside shots this campaign and now will suit up for the team immediately in front of the Pacers in the Eastern Conference standings.
Reports surfaced last offseason that the blue and gold may not be able to get a first-round draft pick in exchange for Hield. If that was the case then, it certainly was the case now with over half of the ongoing season having passed. After unsuccessful extension talks last fall, it made sense for the Pacers to consider Hield's future as a trade chip.
"It's the business of basketball. I thank god I have a jersey on me. You always feel appreciated because somebody wants you," Buddy Hield said Tuesday of the trade deadline and his name being in rumors. "If [a trade] happens, a team's going to get a Buddy that's ready to play."
Morris is averaging 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game this season for the Sixers while Korkmaz is averaging 2.5 points per game. They have both been on the back end of Philly's rotation this season, and their current standing with Indiana is unclear.
The Pacers still have one more open roster spot. The trade deadline is in just under three hours.
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