The NBA isn’t completely off, even if it’s the middle of September. Shams Charania further confirmed that point through his report on Wednesday afternoon, which caught the attention of New York Knicks fans.
New York got a lot wrong in the second round of the playoffs against Miami, but none was more terrifying than watching the team shoot 29% from three. For reference, the Heat shot 38% from deep during their NBA Finals run.
To address that weakness, the Knicks set their sights on Donte DiVincenzo in free agency and signed him to a four-year contract. He shot a career-high 39.7% in Golden State last season and is a career 36.2% shooter.
DiVincenzo can help shore up New York’s shooting woes, but the team could use more help. No, Evan Fournier, that doesn’t mean you.
There is one “new” option the Knicks could pursue, and it’s a player they’ve been linked to several times over the years.
Should the New York Knicks seriously consider a trade for Buddy Hield?
Buddy Hield only spent a season and a half in Indiana after being part of the Tyrese Haliburton trade, and based on Shams Charania’s report, he could start 2023-24 elsewhere (subscription required).
Hield is open to a trade elsewhere, according to opposing team sources, but no deal is imminent and there are no current significant talks with any other team. The Pacers did offer Hield an extension in recent weeks, but it’s believed their offer didn’t make the seven-year guard feel wanted, league sources said.
The 30-year-old guard shot 42.5% from three last season, the highest for him since 2018-19 (42.7%). As Charania said, he’s made more three-pointers than any other player in the past five seasons (not even Steph Curry).
For a team like the Knicks that needs shooting, Leon Rose may be thinking about a Hield trade. However, New York’s roster is overflowing with guards, and Hield’s arrival could mean that Quentin Grimes, who is a better defender, will come off the bench. Reduced minutes could throw a wrench into the 23-year-old’s development.
The Knicks could try to get by dumping Evan Fournier in a deal on draft assets, but is that a smart move? Like Fournier, Hield is on an expiring contract, as he is set to enter unrestricted free agency next summer. If he is traded to New York, there is a risk that he will leave soon after he arrives.
As nice as it is to think about the Knicks having Hield shooting, the idea of ​​trading him to New York was more appealing a few years ago. Not to mention, the Pacers are likely looking for a more valuable player than Fournier, and he’s the only player the team should be willing to give up in this scenario.