The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AFTER being involved in a trade for the second time in his NBA career, Chavano “Buddy” Hield has appeared ready to embrace a new role and a fresh start with the Indiana Pacers.

“It was a shift that was needed,” Hield said of his trade from the Sacramento Kings to the Pacers last week.

“It’s business. It’s basketball. I’m thankful to be here, thankful for the opportunity, and ready to get to work. Indiana is a great basketball state, fans are fun around and I know how passionate they are about basketball.”

In his Pacers debut, Hield finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a 120-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. He followed with 13 points and eight rebounds in a 129-120 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday.

Prior to the trade, Hield averaged 14.4 points per game and made 182 three pointers this season despite shooting a career low 37 percent.

“It’s a new opportunity to call someplace home where you can start fresh again. Of course, you have to learn terminology, coaches, systems, players, and new faces everyday.

“It’s just what comes with this game. A lot comes your way when you get traded but we have to treat this like professionals every day.

“We have a job to do and that’s going out there to compete at a high level,” Hield said.

“My last three or four months in Sacramento, I don’t think it went as well as I wanted it to go of course.

“But this is a new opportunity, I’ve been waiting for that and I just want to prove myself,” Hield told The Tribune.

The Pacers depth chart at guard now includes Hield, Malcolm Brogdon, Tyrese Haliburton, Lance Stephenson, and rookie Chris Duarte.

Haliburton came over to the Pacers alongside Hield and Tristan Thompson for All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday dealt to Sacramento.

Haliburton, in just his second season, is still under his rookie contract and is considered the point guard of the future while Brogdon is owed $67.6 million over the next three seasons but cannot be traded until the offseason because of his recently signed extension in October 2021.

“I just want to go out there and do what I do best - shoot the ball and make opportunities for my teammates,” Hield said.

“Just bring that positive energy to the team,” he added.

The Pacers, No.13 in the Eastern Conference at 19-38, have taken a step back this season following injuries to key starters Brogdon, TJ Warren, and Myles Turner.