The Sacramento Kings might trade Buddy Hield.
The Sacramento Kings haven’t won anything since Rick Adelman left town, but there was optimism that Luke Walton could get this crew into the playoffs in 2020. Marvin Bagley, when healthy, is a solid big man, De’Aarom Fox remains one of the game’s best young point guards, and Buddy Hield’s elite shooting can singlehandedly win games for Sacramento.
While the Kings did make it to the bubble in Orlando, they missed out on the postseason once again, sending the organization into another tailspin. Not only did Vlade Divac resign from their front office, but Hield, demoted to the second unit despite averaging 19.7 points per game, might ask for a trade, citing unhappiness with his role.
Hield’s market is going to be robust if he hits the rumor mill, as he is the type of automatic shooter with an improving defensive game that teams need if they want to acquire a legit scoring option for a playoff push. If Hield burns his bridges in Sacramento, these five teams should try to scoop him up.
These five teams should try to trade for an elite shooter like Buddy Hield.
5
Orlando Magic
Southeast
Orlando once again snuck into the playoffs, even managing to steal a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and company are in the process tenderizing the undermanned Magic. If they want to aspire for more than a quick first-round exit, an outside scoring option with a higher ceiling than Evan Fournier is needed. Hield may cost a player and some picks, but he’s worth it for a team in Orlando that needs outside scoring so badly.
A 40 percent 3-point shooter who averaged 10 3s per game last season, Hield will be able to space the floor, which should help Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon go to town on the inside. If Markelle Fultz continues to show the same quality and efficiency he showed at Washington, he and Hield could form one of the East’s deadliest backcourts. This trade would solidify Orlando as a team that could challenge for the Southeast Division crown.