The Milwaukee Bucks shook the NBA world today when they traded for seven-time all-star Damian Lillard. The trade immediately made the Bucks the favorite to win the 2023-24 NBA Championship. However, the Bucks may not be done with moves yet as they are widely being named as a potential landing spot for a former three-point contest champion.
The Milwaukee Bucks Are Predicted To Add Sharp Shooter Buddy Hield From The Indiana Pacers After Acquiring Damian Lillard
Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers has dominated most Milwaukee Bucks fans’ discussion over the last several days. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Bucks were among a few interested teams in Hield. In addition, Charania reported that Hield and the Pacers are in dialogue about a possible trade due to a stalemate in their contract negotiations.
A majority of Bucks fans are in favor of getting Hield, though there has been some debate about what is a fair offer. A trade involving Hield would involve some interesting players and assets, especially after the Bucks traded for Lillard. Dalton Sell of Fansided highlighted how the Bucks could turn Pat Connaughton into Buddy Hield:
Rather than moving Bobby Portis and losing a massive piece of their frontcourt depth, perhaps the Bucks could look to swap him for Pat Connaughton in any trade for Hield. The Bucks do have much more wings than bigs on the roster. If the Bucks were to move Allen and Connaughton, players like Malik Beasley and Andre Jackson Jr., as well as the next name on this list, could slide into the mix.
Connaughton is on the books for $9.4 million over the next two seasons and holds a player option worth the same amount the following year. Financially, that would make him a reasonable piece in a Hield trade. The Pacers could either keep Connaughton around as a veteran contributor or aim to move him for more assets down the line, as there are plenty of teams who could use him.
Losing Connaughton would sting a tad. He was a crucial cog on Milwaukee’s title team in 2021 and has remained one of the team’s most valuable reserves ever since. He’s a do-it-all player who can make an impact whenever he steps on the court. Yet, as mentioned, the Bucks would have several wings who could aim to fill the void in Connaughton’s absence.
Including Connaughton over Portis would also allow the Bucks to avoid immediate concerns about their frontcourt depth. It would be risky to move Portis and enter the season with Robin Lopez as the primary backup center, with all due respect
During the 2022-23 season Buddy Hield averaged an impressive 16.8 points per game and over 42% from three. Hield also played 80 of the possible 82 games last season. His reliability combined with his shooting ability would add another layer to this Bucks’ team.
The 2023-24 Bucks will have Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton has their core players. Adding a shooter like Buddy Hield would add another scoring threat and make them one of the deepest three-point scoring teams in the league.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many 3s does Buddy Hield make a game?
Buddy Hield makes an average of 3.1 three-pointers per game throughout his career.
Is Buddy Hield a wing?
Yes, Buddy Hield is a wing for the Indiana Pacers. Notably, he recently broke Reggie Miller's single-season franchise record for 3-pointers with his 230th shot made from beyond the arc. This achievement solidifies Hield's role as a key contributor from the wing position.