New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Buddy Hield

Sacramento Kings Receive: G/F Josh Hart, G Tomas Satoransky, 2022 Second-Round Pick (via UTA)

This is the second time the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans are coming together on a trade involving Buddy Hield. 

Hield was part of the return package to Sacramento when they traded DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans back in 2017 during his rookie season. This time around, Hield is the deal’s centerpiece, and he is returning to the team that selected him 6th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.

In the return package for Hield, Josh Hart is the best player the Pelicans parting ways with. He signed a three-year deal worth just under $38 million, so this trade will have to wait until the restrictions are lifted.

Hart has two restrictions, a recently signed player one and because he was re-signed using Bird Rights. So, he cannot be traded until March 3rd. Tomas Satoransky, the other player in this deal, cannot be traded until October 7th.

READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard

Satoransky cannot be traded with another player until that date because he was acquired in a trade once this offseason already. A team must wait two months to trade a player again, and the date of that restriction expires on the 7th of October.

The second-round pick is one of four that the Pelicans have right now in 2022, so including one doesn’t hurt as they are unlikely to keep that many second-rounders on their roster at once.

How does this trade benefit the teams involved? Let’s take a look, starting with the Pelicans.