Buddy Hield On Getting Traded By Pacers To 76ers: ‘It Really Worked Out’

Hield knew he would get traded since his agent requested a trade from the Pacers before the season started after extension talks didn’t get anywhere. 

“If a team doesn’t want to re-sign you, we asked them early and you know how it is. It’s the game,” Hield said. “They say they want to sign you and then after it doesn’t happen, the conversations don’t really keep going on the phone, and it’s like talking to a wall, and nobody’s responding back. But after that, you’re under contract, and you have to, like, honor your contract. So it’s one of those deals where you just gotta come in every day and be professional. But I know that the whole vibe was so different.”

Hield is in the final year of his contract, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Oklahoma product has enjoyed playing for the Sixers, who are in seventh place in the East. 

“It really worked out,” Hield said. “I know that the void they were missing was shooting. We just need to figure out how to play together and weather the storm until Joel gets back.”

One of the best shooters in NBA history, Hield is averaging 15.5 points while shooting 44.0% from the field and 42.2% from beyond the arc with the Sixers, who are trying to stay afloat while Joel Embiid recovers from knee surgery. 

“You want to go to a team that wants you,” Hield said. “You don’t want to go to a team where you’re a piece and it’s like, ‘We’re gonna try this out.’ Other teams are trapping Embiid, so having a 3-point shooter to keep guys honest, I know the reason why I was traded here.”