The Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to trade Buddy Hield for a number of players and draft picks.

The Philadelphia 76ers are set to acquire guard Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a package that includes multiple second-round draft picks, as per league sources.

Hield, currently averaging 12.0 points per game this season for the Pacers, is renowned for his game-changing outside shooting, although he falls short as a defender. He joined the Pacers in 2022 following a trade from the Sacramento Kings and has proven to be an effective player for Indiana. However, with his contract expiring at the end of the current season, the Pacers had to weigh his long-term commitment to the franchise.

The trade involves Hield heading to Philadelphia in exchange for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, and three second-round draft picks. The draft picks include a 2024 second-round pick (best of Toronto and the better of Indiana and the worse of Utah and Cleveland), a 2029 second-round pick via the LA Clippers, and a 2029 second-round pick via the Portland Trail Blazers.

Hield’s role with the Pacers had diminished in recent weeks, prompting the team to consider his future. The Pacers, in the midst of a playoff push, had to weigh the potential impact of losing a rotation player for the rest of the season. Despite giving up a valuable contributor, the Pacers believe the return of a strong, soon-to-come second-rounder and two potentially solid ones is a sensible move for an expiring contract.

Hield, known for his impressive 38.4% shooting from beyond the arc this season, will now join the 76ers, a team currently ahead of the Pacers in the Eastern Conference standings.

In response to the trade, Hield expressed a pragmatic perspective, acknowledging the business aspect of basketball and expressing readiness to contribute to his new team. The Pacers, with the trade, have one more open roster spot as the deadline approaches in under three hours.