Indiana Pacers Interested In Chase Budinger?
By Evan Massey
Jan 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Chase Budinger (10) against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Indiana Pacers are still looking fairly short on scoring following the loss of both Lance Stephenson and Paul George, and Larry Bird is likely still searching for some more help. There aren’t any players left on the free agent market that could make an impact, which makes a trade the only feasible possibility. According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, the Minnesota Timberwolves could be interested in trading small forward Chase Budinger.
Wojnarowski listed the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets as interested teams, but Timberwolves beat writer Darren Wolfson believes that the Pacers should be added to the list as well.
I see Woj has #Twolves shopping Chase. Had dug on this yesterday. Didn't sound like it has enough legs yet. Would add Pacers to his list.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) October 16, 2014
Obviously this is a rumor at this point in time, but it would make a lot of sense for the Pacers. They could use some help at small forward with Solomon Hill not looking like the answer so far, and Budinger could bring some scoring. Perhaps the addition of Budinger would also allow C.J. Miles to come off of the bench and provide a scoring punch like the Pacers had originally planned.
Budinger has had some injury issues throughout his career, and that was once again the case last year. He played in just 41 regular season games with the Timberwolves, starting in just eight of those appearances. In those appearances, he averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 35.0 percent from behind the arc. Those numbers are obviously a bit concerning, but he has shown in his career that he can score the ball at a high level and especially shoot from the perimeter.
Indiana is always looking for extra perimeter shooters, and he would fit that mold. Chris Copeland is also a knockdown three-point shooter, but he lacks the speed and athletic ability to be a starter at this point. It would be interesting to see what pieces would be sent back to Minnesota to complete this trade if it did happen, but either Hill or Copeland could be possible chips.
It isn’t time to believe that the Pacers are aggressively pursuing a trade for Budinger, but it would make a lot of sense. That being said, it’s something to keep an ear open for moving forward.