Three potential trade destinations for Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hield

The Indiana Pacers and shooting guard Buddy Hield have started exploring a potential trade for the 30-year-old after contract extension negotiations broke down, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Hield, an unrestricted free agent after this season, has proven to be a quality role player and an elite shooter from long range. Since entering the Association in 2016, only Stephen Curry, James Harden and Damian Lillard have made more three-pointers than Hield (1,705). 

With his skill set and experience, Hield would fit in well with essentially any team and could be a difference-maker for a championship contender. Here are three potential landing spots for Hield:

Milwaukee Bucks

During an appearance on Bally Sports' "The Rally," Charania suggested Milwaukee as a logical candidate to trade for Hield, and in light of Giannis Antetokounmpo's recent comments, the acquisition would likely appease the superstar forward. 

Antetokounmpo has made it clear that he wants to win his second championship as soon as possible, and if Milwaukee can't promise him a shot at the title, he wouldn't have an issue playing elsewhere. 

In order to take on Hield and his $19.3M cap hit, the Bucks would have to part ways with multiple role players and likely draft capital after spending heavily during free agency. Using ESPN's NBA trade machine, the contracts of Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton would be a sufficient enough package to start negotiating a Hield deal, and attaching a few draft picks would likely be the finishing touch.

Milwaukee doesn't necessarily need the three-point shooting upgrade Hield would provide if it went down the Allen-Connaughton package route. Last season, the Bucks were fourth in three-pointers made (14.8) and attempted (40.3) per game while also ranking 10th in three-point shooting percentage (36.8). 

However, the defensive upgrade would be a welcomed addition for the team that had the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA last season (110.9). 

New Orleans Pelicans 

A return to New Orleans makes perfect sense for the former Pelicans draft pick after the team finished last season 22nd in three-point field goals made (899) and 29th in three-pointers attempted (2,467). Barring a significant acquisition, those figures will likely become worse early this season as the Pelicans' top three-point shooter, Trey Murphy III, suffered a meniscus tear earlier this month and will be out until mid-November. 

Depending on what New Orleans would have to give up in a Hield trade, it might be difficult to extend him since the Pelicans rank 18th in projected practical cap space for 2024-25. Nonetheless, since New Orleans was third in the Western Conference standings when star forward Zion Williamson suffered his eventual season-ending hamstring injury, Hield's addition could elevate a team with an already elite ceiling.

But since Williamson's future in New Orleans and perhaps even the NBA has become so uncertain, an aggressive move to acquire Hield would be even more appropriate because the Pelicans' championship window can close quickly.

Portland Trail Blazers

The offseason-long trade talks surrounding Lillard should wrap up soon, with training camp just around the corner. While the seven-time All-Star point guard is adamant about joining the Miami Heat, they don't have enough desirable assets to acquire him, but other teams, including Indiana, could get in the mix to facilitate a deal. 

According to Gerald Bourguet of GOPHNX.com, the Pacers could enter the Lillard trade discussions in a potential four-team deal involving Portland, Miami and Phoenix. Bourguet notes that Portland could view Hield as a "desirable" piece that they could possibly move in a separate deal to acquire additional assets.

Should Lillard be traded, Portland would lose a player who attempted 11.3 three-pointers per game last season, leaving Anfernee Simons (9.1 3PA) as the team's top threat from beyond the arc. Outside of Lillard and Simons, no other Trail Blazer shot more than 5.7 threes per game in 2022-23, so Hield, who has attempted 9.2 three-point shots per game since 2019, would be a valuable contributor and veteran presence.