Pacers’ Buddy Hield Named ‘Top’ Heat Trade Target

One NBA writer believes the Miami Heat should try to trade for Indiana Pacers shooting guard Buddy Hield this offseason.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report named Hield a top trade target for the Heat after Miami lost the 2023 NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets in five games.

“Miami’s need for shooting is enormous,” Buckley wrote. “Buddy Hield might take care of it on his own. That’s the caliber of marksman he is. He wows with volume and efficiency. He splashes on spot-up chances and on the move. He can even create some scoring chances off the dribble if his team is in a pinch. So, he could functionally find his footing as a three-point specialist, but he has more to offer than the label implies.

“Hield is also conceivably available, as his timeline as a 30-year-old doesn’t exactly align with that of an Indiana team making its third consecutive appearance in the draft lottery.”

Hield signed a four-year, $94 million contract with the Sacramento Kings in October 2019. The sharpshooter will make $18.6 million next season, the final year of his deal. The 30-year-old Hield is one of the greatest shooters of all time. He was second in the NBA this season in 3-point field goals (288) and shot 42.5% from beyond the arc.

The Oklahoma product is a career 40.2% shooter from 3-point land, which is good for 39th in NBA history.

Hield has career averages of 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists with the New Orleans Pelicans, Kings and Pacers. He put up 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season for the Pacers in 80 games.

The Pacers are building around guards Bennedict Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton, so Hield could be placed on the trade block this offseason. It will be interesting to see if the Heat pursue a trade for Hield.