Why Spurs Trade for Pacers' Buddy Hield Works
At long last, it isn't purely imaginative for the San Antonio Spurs to compete in the modern NBA trade market.
Adding a 7-4 generational center to their roster certainly helped with that, as Victor Wembanyama is a draw for players — superstar or not — to join San Antonio's roster. Before his arrival, the Spurs were not only at the bottom of the league standings, but they also fell near the bottom in market size.
The latter hasn't necessarily changed. San Antonio is still a relatively small market compared to other top tier teams that typically headline trade proposals, but now that Wembanyama is in the fold, all eyes are on the Silver & Black.
And for Buddy Hield and the Indiana Pacers, that may be enticing enough to engage in a trade with San Antonio for the veteran sharpshooter.
Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield faces off against the New York Knicks.
© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Hield's biggest asset is his shooting — which any team could utilize — but for San Antonio specifically, it is a big plus. Last season, only three Spurs finished the season with over 40 percent shooting from behind-the-arc, and only two (Doug McDermott and Julian Champagnie) are returning.
Hield finished with a 42.6 percent clip as a primary 3-point shooter, putting him in position to not only add elite shooting to the Spurs, but even lead the team overall.
"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," Bleacher Report wrote of Hield. "The Spurs would understandably balk at giving up much for Hield, and Hield himself may not want to take part in a rebuild. But there's logic in a marriage here."
So, check. Hield would be a positive addition to the Spurs. The next step to look at is whether or not a trade would make sense between the two squads.
Here's what one could look like:
PROPOSED TRADE
SA gets: Buddy Hield, 2025 2nd Round Pick
IND gets: Devonte' Graham, Khem Birch, 2024 1st Round Pick (via CHA)
Naturally, Hield stars in this package. The Spurs would receive him and a second-round pick in exchange for two players and a first. Last season, Graham joined San Antonio post-trade deadline and made the most of his limited time with the Spurs, averaging 13 points and four assists per game.
Together, he and Birch make for a solid return for Indiana. Both players are veterans with experience, and Graham specifically has proven himself capable of averaging 15 points or more in the right system — which Indiana does have given its youth.
San Antonio, on the other hand, would get its shooter and a veteran to help mentor Wembanyama, Sidy Cissoko and the other younger players on coach Gregg Popovich's roster.
Hield's impact would also make him a starter at the two spot, making San Antonio's starting lineup likely consist of Tre Jones, Hield, Keldon Johnson, Wembanyama and Zach Collins.
Second-year forward Jeremy Sochan and Devin fourth-year shooting guard Devin Vassell would also be in consideration, especially with the expected uptick in performance from both players.
Being a developmental team, the Spurs also got a chance to develop and build chemistry while sharing minutes down the stretch — something that Buddy Hield had high praise for with last year's Pacers squad.
“I just think when you bring in a bunch of of good guys that have great personalities, great fits and understand and like each other, it’s easy to have a great vibe," Hield said.
That's certainly the case with the Spurs, who saw their No. 1 overall draft pick dye his hair like Sochan's and sink half-court shots while wearing sunglasses.
So, everything seems to check out on the Spurs end of things. Hield fits, would add to their offense and would experience a locker room similar to the one he enjoyed being a part of last season. And no, San Antonio still isn't as big of a market as a team like the Lakers, but it doesn't need to be.
With Wembanyama, everything changes. And Hield could be one of the first true testaments of that.
