Over the last few months, the Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly registered interest in trading for sharpshooting guard Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers.
That is according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who noted that the Bucks are joined by both the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers as interested suitors. If Hield is indeed in the market for a change of scenery, Milwaukee, who could use an upgrade at the starting shooting guard slot, makes sense as a destination.
Since being drafted, Hield has been one of the best shooters league-wide, having made the most triples out of anyone over the past five years. The Bucks are always looking to put more perimeter shooters around Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Hield would be a perfect match. Financially, it would take some string-pulling to match Hield’s $18.6 million salary for next season, but it’s possible.
With all of that said, let us look at three trade packages between the Bucks and Pacers for Hield.
Trade No. 1 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers
Though everyone’s favorite tool, the NBA trade machine, will tell you that this trade doesn’t work financially, it does. The rules involving the second apron will not take place until 2024-25, meaning this deal could go through if both teams saw fit. While it could work, would it make sense for both the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers? Mostly.
First and foremost, if the Bucks make any trade, Grayson Allen is almost certainly going to be in it, as his salary makes him extremely useful, especially when trying to get a larger salary like Hield’s. While he’s largely been a fine starting guard for the Bucks, Hield would be an immediate upgrade, meaning Allen’s inclusion should not ruffle too many feathers amongst Bucks fans.
Connaughton, on the other hand, could upset some. While Hield is better, Connaughton has been a key piece on this team for years, including during the 2021 title run, where he proved to be one of the team’s most valuable reserves. Yet, like Allen, he’s got a decently sized salary that could be an important factor in facilitating a deal like this, especially for an upgrade in Hield.
As mentioned in this trade breakdown, Allen and Connaughton could be interesting pieces for the Pacers. If the team were to keep them, they could be veteran presences for a younger team while also providing some solid play on the court. Yet, they could also look to flip the pair for assets at some point as well to stock up further on draft capital or other pieces.
Trade No. 2 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers
If that previous deal doesn’t intrigue the Pacers, perhaps this one would due to a previous rumor that was floating around. Per Yahoo! Sport’s Jake Fischer, the Pacers were hunting for an upgrade at power forward leading up to the trade deadline this past season. If they still are, Bobby Portis could perhaps intrigue the Pacers as they look to find a suitable return for Hield.
Portis, coming off a top-three finish in the Sixth Man of the Year race, would be a nice fit for the Pacers next to starting center Myles Turner. With the Bucks, he’s played some of the best ball of his career, having averaged 13.4 points, 8.6 points, and 1.3 assists per game. Portis also secured financially for the next three seasons, so the Pacers would have him locked up.
For Milwaukee, losing Portis would be a blow to a bench that has problems putting points on the board as is. However, the big man has had some trouble staying on the court in the playoffs due to particular matchups. If the Bucks were to trade Portis right now, his value would be the highest it’s ever been coming an incredibly productive year.
If this deal went through, it would pose some major questions about Milwaukee’s frontcourt depth without Portis, as Robin Lopez would be the only backup big. Perhaps the Bucks could use the one roster spot that would open up following this trade on a center to add depth.
Trade No. 3 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers
This is the unlikeliest deal of the bunch, but it’s something the Milwaukee Bucks should push on the Indiana Pacers to consider.
Not only would the Bucks add their new starting shooting guard in Hield, but they would also get an incredibly intriguing piece in Andrew Nembhard. The guard just had a solid rookie year, having averaged 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Nembhard, a combo guard, could be the answer to Milwaukee’s lack of a backup ball-handler as currently constructed.
At just 23 years old, most of Nembhard’s potential is still very much untapped, and he would be a great young pickup for this mostly veteran-oriented roster. The Bucks could use younger players to develop, and Andrew Nembhard would undoubtedly be a great addition in that regard.
There are Bucks fans who would question including a first round pick in such a deal, given just how valuable that pick could be. However, if the Bucks want to revamp their backcourt and add a pair of pieces who could help immediately, it’s something worth considering heavily. Again, they would be losing two key cogs, but they’d be adding two likely upgrades in the process.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and ongoing Buddy Hield trade talk.