Should the Cleveland Cavaliers target a Buddy Hield trade?
The Cavaliers would appreciate Hield’s durability and shooting
With Hield and the Pacers collaborating on a trade for the veteran sharpshooter, there will undoubtedly be 28 other teams than the Cavaliers calling the Pacers to gauge the price tag. In the modern NBA, Hield’s skillset as a deadeye wing can help any team that trades for him on offense.
Last season, Hield shot 42.5 percent from deep and 47.6 percent from the corner on high volume. When the Cavaliers signed Niang this summer, his 52.6 percent corner 3-point percentage was the biggest highlight for Niang’s fit on the roster. Per game, Hield attempted 1.6 corner threes, and Niang attempted only one per contest. With a similar sample size, having two lethal corner sharpshooters elevates Cleveland’s perimeter capabilities tenfold.
From a team building perspective, Hield could easily help the Cavaliers enter the league’s best of the best in terms of long range shooting. Last season, Hield had the second-most 3-pointers made, second only behind Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Putting a shooter of his caliber on the court with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen alleviates much of the problems involved in their floor spacing.
Hield has yet to shoot under 36.6 percent from deep over an entire season in his career. Over his career, Hield has average 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists, giving him another tool to impact a team. At 30 years old, Hield still has plenty of years left of high-level NBA play.
Additionally, Hield is a highly durable talent, rarely missing time on the court. Last season, Hield played 80 games, the fifth time in his career that he has played 80 or more games in his seven-year career. In a league where availability is often the best ability any player can offer to a team, Hield is a constant presence on the court. With consistent offensive production on a nightly basis, Buddy Hield has established a career as one of the Association’s most capable, consistent producers on the perimeter.
Unfortunately, Hield’s flaws begin to emerge outside of his 3-point shooting production. At least on the Cavaliers, Hield would likely find himself in a similar predicament to the one he faces in Indiana.