Grade The Trade: Bucks add sharpshooting guard in this mock with Pacers
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks’ POV on this trade with the Indiana Pacers
Over the years, the Bucks have not been able to find stability at the starting two-guard position. From Malcolm Brogdon to Wesley Matthews to Donte DiVincenzo to Grayson Allen, there have been a handful of names to hold to the torch in recent memory. Buddy Hield would be the best of the bunch and would immediately present an upgrade over Allen, the current holder.
Hield would be a seamless fit with the Bucks, who could use a boost on the offensive end before the new season begins. The guard has made a living on the perimeter, having shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range on 7.7 attempts per game. Alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton, Hield would get no shortage of open looks, which would fuel his success.
The guard’s 3-point shooting has helped him average 16.1 points per game for his career thus far. Though the Bucks are a defensive-orientated team, the lack of reliable scorers outside of the Big 3 has been an issue over the last few years, so adding a piece like Hield, even with his shortcomings on defense, would make sense to give this team a massive shot in the arm on offense.
Milwaukee would have to part with key pieces on the wing in Allen and Connaughton, as well as a recent draft pick in Livingston in this deal. If all three were moved, it would display that Milwaukee has faith in their other young wings such as MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr. to fill in and give this team meaningful minutes nightly, which the Bucks would absolutely need.
A starting five of Holiday, Hield, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez would certainly be a formidable group, posing a nice balance of strong play on both sides of the ball.