According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Indiana Pacers are beginning the process of looking for a Buddy Hield trade, as contract extension negotiations between the two parties broke down. And while the San Antonio Spurs are about to rebuild, they could be an intriguing trade destination.
Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report wrote a list of three of the “top potential landing spots” for Hield now that he’s on the trade market, and he labeled the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Spurs as the three teams. Considering Hield is entering the final year of his deal, it could be a low-risk move for the Spurs.
Conway believes Hield’s shooting gravity would open up the floor for Wembanyama, though he admitted San Antonio may hesitate to give up real assets for the sharpshooter.
“As it stands, San Antonio is surrounding its non-shooter future superstar with a roster full of mediocre-at-best floor spacers—the exact type of players who will limit his offensive freedom as he develops,” Conway wrote. “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.
“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.”