Report: Buddy Hield may not be worth a first-round pick on the trade market for the Indiana Pacers

Hield and the Pacers are reportedly trying to figure out the future

The Indiana Pacers are reportedly in the process of figuring out the future with guard Buddy Hield. The sharpshooter is about to enter the final season of his contract, and according to reports, after extension talks failed the Pacers pivoted to the trade market.

It's the natural progression of events. Indiana has a young roster and has to keep the long-term future in mind while juggling their short-term goals, and while Hield is a helpful talent, losing him for nothing would be unwise. Looking at trades and figuring out what their options are going forward, both in terms of extensions and swaps, is smart business by Indiana.

Some recently-traded players with expiring contracts, Josh Hart and Christian Wood, both were dealt for late first-round picks on top of matching salary. That could be a bar for Indiana to ask for in return from other teams, though any trade could depend on what the matching salary coming back to the Pacers is. Hield's willingness to do an extension with his new squad could play a factor as well.

Many teams make sense as trade partners, and a few have already been reported. But the price for Hield may be lower than the aforementioned thinking. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, a first-round pick may be too much for teams to part with for Hield.

"On my Saturday radio show on 97.1 The Freak in Dallas, I made the case that Buddy Hield's prowess as a three-point shooter gives Indiana some real hope that moving Hield between now and the February trade deadline could ultimately bring back a future first-round pick," Stein began.

"A few rival executives who either heard my take or read about it later let me know afterward that they disagree," he added in a report on Sunday. "The handful of execs I spoke to post-show were unanimous in their view that Hield's looming free agency, with only this coming season left on his current contract at $19.3 million, will complicate Indiana's efforts to generate offers that feature more than multiple second-round picks attached to the contract(s) needed to match Hield's salary."

That result would be comparable to some recent trades around the league such as Jae Crowder, Josh Richardson, and Delon Wright. Those players all were dealt for second-round draft picks, though there is an argument to be made that Hield is better than all of them. He was second in the NBA in threes made last season and has improved as a connector and rebounder with the Pacers.

Assuming there are no awkward feelings between Hield and the Pacers, then no transaction needs to happen for a while. Hield is extension eligible throughout the season, so a resolution could happen any time between now and the trade deadline. Until then, if he keeps playing for the Pacers, his value could change based on many internal and external factors.

Indiana has built up a sizable supply of future draft picks, and they also have a deep roster. Trading Hield for picks or rotation-level talent comes with negatives and positives.

Last year, Indiana entered the season with trade considerations hanging over their heads via center Myles Turner. They ultimately agreed to a contract extension in January of this year. Hield, the Pacers, and other team's situations can change and alter the course of the roster building.

Indiana begins training camp next week. Stein's full report can be found here.

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• Report: Indiana Pacers start talks on a Buddy Hield trade after extension discussion breaks down. CLICK HERE.
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