Trade Scenario No. 3 – Sacramento Kings
Golden State Warriors Receive: G Buddy Hield, F Nemanja Bjelica, SAC 2022 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected)
Sacramento Kings Receive: F Andrew Wiggins, G Jordan Poole
From his college days to the first time he stepped on an NBA court, Buddy Hield has been a very dynamic scorer on the perimeter and a very strong perimeter-oriented threat. Since being traded to Sacramento during the 2016-17 season, Hield has averaged 17.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and has shot 44.5% from the floor and 41.4% from three-point range.
His gifted shooting abilities make him a very intriguing trade target for many teams around the league, the question though is whether or not Sacramento is willing to trade him. Last year, Buddy Hield and Kings management did not seem to see “eye-to-eye” on things and he had his own disputes with head coach Luke Walton a couple of times.
As a result, Hield was benched at certain times last season and there were times in the offseason that Luke Walton was unable to get in contact with his 28-year old guard. Everything seems to have been worked out between both parties and everything seems to be going well, but there is obviously tension between Buddy Hield and Sacramento that could arise at any moment this season.
Buddy Hield needs a fresh start and the best place he could be traded to is Golden State. His play-style fits exactly what they need right now on the wing alongside Steph Curry and when fully healthy, this Warriors’ lineup would have three of the top three-point shooters in the entire league.
In this trade proposal, the finances for both teams are almost identical to one another and Andrew Wiggins definitely has the highest value out of any player in this trade. As a result, the Kings would likely have to send a protected first-round pick to Golden State, especially since they are getting Jordan Poole as well.
Poole is in his second season in the league and has been a solid bench player. In 57 games last season, the rookie averaged 8.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and shot 33.3% from the floor. He struggled shooting the ball last season, but so far this season, Poole looks a lot more comfortable in the mid-range and from beyond-the-arc.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins have not been impressive at all in terms of being complementary players to Steph Curry and right now, this team is just the ‘Steph Curry Show.’ Trading for Buddy Hield not only sets this team up to make the playoffs and contend this season, but for when Klay is back and this team is fully healthy, the Warriors would have the best three-point shooting team in the league.
Jordan Poole is a player the Warriors are really high on moving forward, but they will have to develop him over time, whereas Buddy Hield is already established and you know what you are getting with him. Not to mention, Nemanja Bjelica could be a great veteran addition for Golden State.
The 32-year old Serbian forward is a 39.2% career three-point shooter and he is a decent rebounder as well, averaging about 5 rebounds per game since entering the league in 2015. With the struggles the Warriors have in their frontcourt, with Draymond Green just returning from injury and Marquese Chriss being out for the year, Bjelica can provide depth and more veteeran leadership for this young team.
The Warriors would also be getting a protected first-round pick in this trade that could prove useful to them continuing to build a young core for the future. They just drafted James Wiseman 2nd overall this past year and he has NBA stardom written all over him, and they also have Minnesota’s first-round pick next year.
If this organization can keep getting high first-round picks and continue to draft high-level, young talent, they will have no problem setting themselves up for success for years to come and keep the dynasty alive. Making this trade should be a no-brainer for the Golden State Warriors and if they can convince the Sacramento Kings to trade Buddy Hield, the Warriors will be championship contenders for the next several years.
