The regular season for the Indiana Pacers is just about to start. There are many interesting storylines heading into the season and one of the biggest is the future of Buddy Hield.
Heild is currently in the last year of his deal, where the 30-year-old will be making about $19 million. Despite his very productive time with the Pacers his age and lack of defense are notable areas of concern for a team that has their eyes set on a return to the playoffs. Then there is also his history when he was in Sacramento and he stated he’s a starter.
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That last part is a reason that has fueled a lot of the thinking that trading Hield is the best solution. Also, add in the fact that last year’s rookie Bennedict Mathurin will be pushing to be the starter as he continues to build on his rookie season. And then there is the free-agent addition of Bruce Brown. Needless to say, there are a lot more players competing for a starting spot alongside Haliburton.
Last season Heild finished second in the NBA with 288 made three-point field goals and third with 677 three-point attempts. Those 288 made three-pointers are also the most in franchise history. He also played in all but two games. Hield is not slowing down, unfortunately, his age doesn’t align with the young core of the blue and gold.
The negatives in the Indiana Pacers trading Buddy Hield
The way today’s NBA is being played, with space and pace and everyone shooting threes. It all helps bolster Hield’s case for a bigger contract. Looking at last year’s Indiana Pacers’ team they had just five guys shoot 40% or better from deep. Now, three of the five appeared in over 50 games for the blue and gold. Hield’s 42.5% ranked second, for guys who appeared in 50 or more games, behind T.J. McConnell.
If you expand to players who shot league average on threes, 35%, then you get just three more players, Myles Turner (37.3%), Aaron Nesmith (36.6%), and Andrew Nembhard (35%). So, that’s only six players who appeared in 50 games or more and shot at least 35% or better from three. But the question that is asked is if you remove Hield from this group who is the guy that will demand opposing defenses to always pay attention to?
The fact remains that this Indiana Pacers team just does not have a lot of good reliable outside shooters. And even more pressure is added to Haliburton’s offense if Hield isn’t out there. Something that helps back this up is the fact that he is just one of five guys to play at least 1,000 minutes and has a positive plus/minus net per 100 possessions. Then two other stats help support the case for Hield’s importance.
Again, of the players who played at least 1,000 minutes, Hield is just one of five players to have a positive field goal and true shooting addition. All of this is to say that Hield is incredibly important to this Indiana Pacers’ team. It’s been reported that what the blue and gold offered Hield didn’t show him he was valued enough and that’s what he ultimately wants. So, it would make some sense to offer a more front-loaded high-dollar amount contract.
Working out an extension with him is something that would benefit both players. Especially since the team doesn’t have any bad contracts and some cap space too. This would also make sense when you consider some of the upcoming Pacers’ free agents. Guys such as Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith, Jordan Nwora, Bruce Brown, Isaiah Jackson, and Myles Turner. Hield is a valuable player to this team and it helps that he’s best friends with the franchise player.