Should the Cleveland Cavaliers target a Buddy Hield trade?
Free agency was filled with moves by the Cleveland Cavaliers for improved outside shooting at the wing and forward spots.
The inclusion of Max Strus and Georges Niang gives Cleveland an injection of shooting they desperately lacked last season and playoffs. As it stands now, the Cavaliers have a forward lineup of Strus, Isaac Okoro, Niang, and Dean Wade. Caris LeVert will spend some time at the small forward spot, too, but is likely to play primarily as a combo guard.
Though the Cavs have made strides in the right direction, there is no reason to stop adding shooting talent when it is available. With all the talent on the roster, they still have some question marks entering next season. As it so happens, one of the league’s premiere shooters has suddenly entered the trade market in Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers, per a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (subscription required).
Hield’s departure from Indiana comes from a fractured extension negotiation, meaning that any team trading for Hield should consider him either a one-year rental or be prepared to commit long-term salary following the trade.
With the NBA cap space rising every season, extending Buddy Hield does not mean his new team will be unable to make any moves next offseason. Conversely, extending Hield now would give an organization his Bird Rights and allow them to manage their financials more easily than signing Hield outright in the summer.
After the Cavaliers’ moves this summer, they still have room to improve at every position. Targeting a trade before training camp could help them toward their goals. With that being said, Hield is not a miracle option for Cleveland.
Hield is an intriguing Cavs target, however, would he be worth the cost? We’ll examine that further.
Hield has plenty of upside for the Cavaliers, but trading for him is not a perfectly done deal with no issues.