Longtime Lakers Trade Target Finally Moved to Eastern Conference Rival

The end of a long dream for Los Angeles.

Longtime Los Angeles Lakers longtime trade target Buddy Hield has finally been traded again. 

But no, not to the Lakers.

Instead, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that the Indiana Pacers are flipping the sharpshooting swingman to the Philadelphia 76ers for a trade package of forward Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz and three-round picks.

Hield had been courted by the Lakers for years, and there was even thought that he would be traded to Los Angeles at one point. However, the team nixed any deal for the 6'4" wing, instead making a move for guard Russell Westbrook.

We all know how the Westbrook experiment worked out for the team, and the dream to land Hield stayed alive for a while. However, with him heading to Philadelphia now, it's finally over.

Additionally, this trade could factor into how the Lakers conduct business during this trade deadline. The University of Oklahoma product is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason and went for three second-round picks.

This shows what the market looks like right now and how in demand the sellers are. The Lakers may have to pay premium prices to land a player that only helps on the margins. 

It remains to be seen what the front office will do, but this first trade of the final day of the trade deadline could be telling.