TRADED TO INDIANA - Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield has been traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers in a two-team, six-player deal. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
By BRENT STUBBS
Senior Sports Reporter
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
In an expected move in the National Basketball Association yesterday, Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers in a two-team, six-player deal.
Hield, 29, was traded along with Tyrese Halburton and centre Tristan Thompson to Indiana.
In exchange, Sacramento received centre Domantas Sabonis, guards Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb, along with a 2027 second-round pick.
The six-foot, four-inch, 200-pound Hield was selected out of the University of Oklahoma with the sixth pick in the first round of the NBA draft in 2016 by the New Orleans Pelicans.
On February 20, 2017, Hield was traded, along with Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and 2017 first-round and second-round draft picks to the Kings for DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi.
Over his five years in the league in Sacramento, Hield averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.
He leaves the struggling Kings, who are currently in 13th place in the Western Conference.
On Saturday, Sacramento knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-103 as Hield logged 20 minutes, scoring nine points with three rebounds, a steal and three turnovers, while committing a pair of personal fouls.
As he moves to the Eastern Conference, Hield will suit up for the Pacers, coached by Rick Carlisle, who are also in 13th place with a 19-36 record. He brings a lot of firepower to the Pacers’ backcourt that includes Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Duarte, TJ McConnell and Ricky Rubio.
The Pacers next game is scheduled for Friday when Hield should be available to play in a rematch against the Cavaliers.
Hield grew up in Eight Mile Rock before he left the Bahamas to attend Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Wichita, Kansas, before he went on to Oklahoma where he starred for the Sooners from 2012-2016.
At present, Hield is one of three Bahamians currently playing in the NBA alongside centre Deandre Ayton, who is holding his own with the league-leading and Western Conference leading Phoenix Suns, who are 43-10.
And Kai Jones, selected with the 19th pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the New York Knicks and immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
Jones, 21, was dropped to the G-League where he was impressive before he was returned to the Hornets.
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