Buddy Hield
The Sacramento Kings have flirted with the idea of trading Buddy Hield for a while. Last offseason, there were rumors that Hield was going to be traded to the New York Knicks in a package that included Julius Randle. That is a deal no longer on the table, as Randle developed into an All-Star and All-NBA performer, locking into a long-term deal with the Knicks to be part of their future.
Hield was almost traded before the 2021 NBA Draft. It was heavily reported that he would be heading to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package of Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and the Lakers’ 2021 first-round pick.
Harrell even had to opt into his contract for the 2021-22 season and was expecting to go to Sacramento, but at the last minute, the Lakers pivoted and sent that package, in addition to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, to the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook.
Knowing the team essentially had a deal done for him will create some awkwardness, so a Buddy Hield trade is still on the table. Ultimately, he will end up with the Detroit Pistons.
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Detroit was interested in Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and Hield can fill a similar role they envisioned for him. The Oklahoma product is a 40.6 percent shooter from distance and will give the Pistons another older presence on the team, along with Jerami Grant, to help the youngsters along in their development.
He can slot right into the starting lineup alongside Cade Cunningham in the backcourt, or come off the bench as the team’s sixth man and go-to scorer with the second unit.
