Does this trade make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers?
Buddy Hield shot 39.1% from three-point range this season on about 10.2 three-point attempts per game, which ranked him third in the league in three-point attempts per game, and for his career, he has shot 40.6% from three-point range. That should be enticing to a team like the Lakers.
When they are healthy, the Lakers are just fine with LeBron James and Anthony Davis being their main facilitators and scorers, but they need some guys that they can feel confident in throwing the ball out to on the perimeter to knock down open shots.
Hield is the perfect match in a LeBron James led Lakers offense not only because of his ability to knock down a shot from virtually any position on the court, but because he is confident in his abilities to get to his spots inside the arc as well. Close to 73% of his shots during the 2020-21 season came from the three-point line, but Buddy Hield can get to the rim and finish at a high percentage, as he shot 44.6% on two-point shots this season.
With the Lakers possibly looking to move on from Kyle Kuzma in the offseason, the Kings not only are a perfect fit for him, but contractually, the Lakers could move Kuzma and Harrell in order to bring in Hield. Both Kuzma’s and Harrell’s contracts for next season add up to $22.7M combined, which is close to Buddy Hield’s $22.4M contract for next season.
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This move would likely mean that Dennis Schroder would be gone and they would not be able to target guys like Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley, but the addition of Hield on the wing will give the Lakers more perimeter scoring threats, which is something they will need during the 2021-22 season.
