Buddy Hield shares why he hoped to be traded from Indiana Pacers, Rick Carlisle says team wished to keep him

Hield was traded to the 76ers last month

INDIANAPOLIS — Last month, it was revealed in multiple reports that Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield wanted to be traded by the Indiana Pacers. Ultimately, that request was filled as Hield was sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team deal that landed Indiana Doug McDermott and draft capital.

"Today was one of those decisions that feels like it wasn't helping the team now. But we're trying to look long term, and I can't emphasize that enough with this group," Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of the trade.

So far, Hield is averaging 15.4 points and 5.2 assists per game for Philadelphia. McDermott, meanwhile, has battled a calf injury and has played in just six games for Indiana — and his per game numbers currently read 3.2 points and 0.7 assists.

Recently, Hield chatted with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports about his career and being traded again, and some of his comments were revealing both about how Hield felt during his time with the blue and gold this season and why he wished to be dealt.

"If a team doesn't want to re-sign you, we asked them early and you know how it is. It’s the game. They say they want to sign you and then after it doesn’t happen, the conversations don't really keep going on the phone, and it's like talking to a wall, and nobody's responding back," Hield told Fischer. The Pacers and Hield had contract extension discussions last offseason, where they explored a multi-year framework. But talks never were successful. "But after that, you're under contract, and you have to, like, honor your contract. So it’s one of those deals where you just gotta come in every day and be professional. But I know that the whole vibe was so different," Hield added.

Before the season, Buchanan shared that the Pacers and Hield had extension talks. "We want him on our team this year. The business of basketball comes into play at times," the GM said in September just before the season. "We'd like to have Buddy with us. We have no intention of trying to move Buddy. But it's also our job to listen if opportunities come that help us improve the team. That's what we have to do as a front office," he added. Ultimately, with no extension taking place up to the trade deadline, the veteran shooting guard was moved.

Hield also discussed his contract reality before the season, saying that in a perfect world he'd remain with Indiana. But with contract talks never reaching an agreement, that perfect reality changed.

With Hield hoping to be dealt and extension discussions not leading to a new deal, the Pacers moved on. Hield shared more with Fischer about why he wanted to be moved.

"I think the most challenging part was the indecision, the indecision. Just like with games. We had a lot of guards and we didn't ever know who was… what decision [head coach] Rick (Carlisle) was gonna make. Who's starting, who's not,” Hield told Yahoo Sports. "And how they feel about you. I know there was a feeling where they weren't feeling too hot about me. I know there were a lot of decisions, like, who was going to be on the court, who's not going on the court? I just know it was at the point of the season where it was like, all right, I need to get out of here."

Hield started in 28 of his 52 games with the Pacers this season. He came off the bench to open the campaign, then was brought into the starting five as a key adjustment in November. The team surged at the time, but they eventually came down to earth and fell back to .500. That's when Hield returned to the second unit, and he was traded less than two months later.

Carlisle discussed Hield's comments on Thursday before the Pacers hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves. "I saw some of it. I love Buddy. I wish we could have kept him. I think everybody in the organization wishes we could have kept him. And we could have. It would have been something that was self-serving for the organization, but not the best thing for the player," the head coach explained. "One great thing about this organization is that they treat their players with a lot of respect. In some cases if a trade gets close, they'll let the player know that there's a chance he's going to get moved some time soon."

Asked Rick Carlisle about Buddy Hield’s recent comments concerning the end of his Pacers tenure and getting traded: pic.twitter.com/1XxTXYhz22

— Tony East (@TonyREast) March 7, 2024

The blue and gold could have sign-and-traded Hield in the summer if they held onto him. They could have explored more contract extension frameworks down the stretch of the season. But with the guard hoping to be moved and unhappy with what he called indecision, a deal made sense to acquire future value.

"Buddy's special. His two years will be fondly remembered here. I didn't get all the details of what he said. He's one of a kind. I loved him. Loved working with him for two years," Carlisle said. "He was a total pro with everything that he did. So I have great appreciation for him. He's in a situation now where he's been a consistent starter and playing more minutes. And so we wish him well. There's a chance we'll see them. I'm happy for him that he's in a better situation personally. But nobody here wanted to trade him." 

That last line says it all. Indiana hoped to keep the sharpshooting guard, and they had the final say on doing so. But to the team, it didn't make sense to retain Buddy Hield. They moved on. And as Carlisle said, perhaps the Pacers see the 76ers later this season. If they do, it would likely be in the Play-In Tournament.

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