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Report: The Kings are not actively pursuing a Buddy Hield trade

The latest update on Buddy Hield's future in Sacramento.
By | 36 Comments | Nov 2, 2020

Kimani Okearah

As Monte McNair embarks on his first offseason in charge of basketball operations for the Kings, Buddy Hield’s future in Sacramento looms as one of McNair’s biggest decisions.

Hield didn’t hide the fact that he wasn’t pleased with his role in Luke Walton’s rotation last season after losing his starting spot to restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic. The way the Kings’ relationship with Buddy soured over the last year fueled rampant speculation that one of two things had to happen before the 2020-21 season kicks off: Either Buddy Hield is traded, or Bodgan Bogdanovic isn’t retained.

Despite that trade speculation, McNair spoke glowingly about Hield in his introductory press conference back in September. Of course, there is a huge “what else is he supposed to say?” factor here, but McNair acted as if Hield will be a big part of what the Kings want to do offensively next season.

Forbes’ Sean Deveney provided a minor update on the Buddy Hield situation on Saturday in a report sourced from a rival NBA general manager. According to Deveney and his source, the Kings haven’t been actively pursuing a Buddy Hield trade, yet.

€œI think it makes a lot of sense, them trying to move him, start with a clean slate, they were better without him in the starting five, all of that,€ one general manager said. €œThe logic is there. But there does not seem to be a lot of action there, not yet at least. It is not something where they seem to be shopping him very actively. Maybe it would be better to wait, to see how the season starts, but I don’t get the sense that they’re out there really laying the groundwork for a deal. They’re just not yet shopping him.€

Considering we know that the source of Deveney’s report is another NBA general manager, it’s entirely possible that the Kings are having conversations about Hield with other general managers around the league that he isn’t privy to, so I’m digesting this rumor with a healthy amount of skepticism, but it’s information worth talking about.

The Kings have legitimate reasons to keep Buddy, so while I’m skeptical about this particular report, it could certainly be legit. Beyond the on-court reasons, McNair would likely be trading Buddy at a low point in his value around the league. Everyone knows he’s unhappy. Everyone knows the fit with Bogdanovic’s emergence is awkward. Everyone knows he had a down year by his 2018-19 standards. If McNair would prefer to build Hield’s value back up to trade him later, there is a lot of logic to that approach.

It’s also possible that McNair just prefers Hield to Bogdanovic, and that’s how this situation is eventually resolved. We’ll find that one out when free agency opens in a few weeks.

The big problem McNair has to consider is that if Hield’s relationship with Luke Walton is as bad as it appears from the outside, his value around the league could tank even further. The Athletic’s Jason Jones reported last month that Hield hasn’t been returning Walton’s phone calls since the Kings left the Orlando bubble. If Hield and Walton can’t come to some resolution soon, I would expect the trade rumors to continue.

 

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Socalpurplecurse
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November 2, 2020 8:34 am

Unless theres equal value out there for him like a top 10 2020 draft pick for example we are not trading him. I’m sure McNair will do his due diligence to see what his current market value is and we all agree that most wanna pounce on a steal based on buddies outspoken unpleasant current role on the team. If the Knicks or Atlanta want him straight up for their 2020 picks I say we do it.

hank_04
November 2, 2020 8:40 am

I think keeping an open ear but not rushing or panicking is probably the right move. Not only is Buddy at a low point in trade value right now, but his trade value would likely increase after free agency, closer to the trade deadline. He’s an ideal fit for any team trying to make a deep playoff push. As some of those teams start struggling, or teams that suspected they’d be struggling start sniffing the playoffs, I think his services could get a good little bidding war going, which doesn’t seem to be happening now.

Unless McNair gets an offer that is to his liking, I’d support holding on to Buddy. The only way his value gets worse is a serious injury or a public trade demand, which honestly, he’s all but done.

RAP87
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November 2, 2020 8:52 am

Makes sense. You don’t trade a player just for the sake of trading. If Mcnair feels that the offers for Buddy is below his expectations then might as well keep him and build his trade value. Now if a team offers a good amount of value for Buddy then I’m pretty sure Mcnair wouldn’t think twice about trading Buddy.

Adamsite
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November 2, 2020 8:54 am

It would be so Kangz to let Bogi walk for nothing or get a box of rocks for a S&T because they favor Hield, only to have Buddy demand a trade a few weeks into the season. If he and Walton clearly don’t see eye to eye, one of them has to go.

Hobby916
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November 2, 2020 8:59 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Ha, exactly. I say bring Bogi back and keep Hield for now (unless a great offer comes). Let the season play out and shop them before the deadline.

Klam
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November 2, 2020 9:28 am
Reply to  Adamsite

“What did you get for Hield?”
comment image

RobHessing
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November 2, 2020 11:28 am
Reply to  Klam

Mitch Richmond is coming back?

Gregoryl
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November 2, 2020 10:57 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Have faith in Air McNair…

RobHessing
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November 2, 2020 11:29 am
Reply to  Gregoryl

…and hope that it is not Err McNair.

eddie41
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November 2, 2020 9:03 am

I’d like to see how Hield plays with McNair. One of the best shooters. Difficult to guard. runs more than anyone else is the nba. Just needs to be utilized correctly. Team can resign Bogdan also I think.

Adamsite
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November 2, 2020 9:07 am
Reply to  eddie41

But… McNair isn’t the coach.

eddie41
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November 2, 2020 9:25 am
Reply to  Adamsite

No but he’s (1) an analytics guy who can identify problems and opportunities, (2) a hands-on GM who interacts with coaches and maybe also players to improve the team’s performance, and (3) he has the ability to improve the personnel around Hield, all which can result in …. Hield being utilized better.

Peja
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November 2, 2020 1:01 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Alvin Gentry could help in this department.

BestHyperboleEver
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November 2, 2020 9:47 am
Reply to  eddie41

I mean, I’m assuming he’ll play the same way he did two seasons ago. And most of last season as well. We know who Hield is. Everybody in the league knows who Hield is. Walton hoped he was more than that. He was wrong.

eurostep
eurostep
November 2, 2020 11:17 am

Great take. If they do retain Buddy the ball’s back in Walton court to utilize Buddy in the best way to help the team.

Wonderchild
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November 2, 2020 12:13 pm

Agree. Buddy is best in a Klay type role on offense as a 3rd option, and occasionally a 2nd. Last season, he was utilized as a 2nd option, and sometimes first.

SelecaoKOJ
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November 2, 2020 1:25 pm
Reply to  Wonderchild

Klay type role? Klay is the second best option on a contending team. Buddy is not. Klay is superior to Buddy in all aspects of the game. They are about equal in shooting. But, that’s where the conversation ends. Klay is a complete player and defensive stalwart. Buddy is essentially a second or third option on a bad team. Never first.

Wonderchild
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November 2, 2020 1:43 pm
Reply to  SelecaoKOJ

If you’ll read what I wrote, you would see that I didn’t compare Buddy to Klay at all as far as caliber of player, only as role on the team.

And Klay is, was, and always has been at best a 3rd option on the Warriors, which is indicative of the quality of players that have been around him. Put him on a bad team and see how he does when he doesn’t get to take 23 shots on 3 dribbles every game. He’d probably look a lot more like Buddy (on offense) than you’d think.

Adamsite
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November 2, 2020 12:57 pm

Yeah, he’s a known and scouted player. I don’t realive believe that he needs to prove himself to increase his value. About the only thing he could do now is decrease his value by pouting, requesting a trade, or getting injured.

Sacto_J
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November 2, 2020 1:57 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Hield would easily win the MVP on this team – most valuable pouter.

furious.d
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November 2, 2020 2:44 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I agree that he’s a known commodity as an elite 3pt shooter and strong overall scorer who does little else. However, I do think his value can increase as the length remaining on his contract goes down. We tend to talk about guys being good or bad values on their yearly salary, but that becomes less important when there’s 2 years or less remaining on the deal.

As an example, Mike Conley’s huge contract would’ve been hard to move when it was a brand new 5yr/$153mil risk. The Grizzlies seemed to outbid the market to retain an aging 3rd option on a max contract. But after he played his contract down to a remaining 2yr/$68mil, the Jazz were willing to give up a nice package of prospects / picks to acquire him, even though he isn’t really “worth” $34mil/season.

If Buddy can stay healthy, a veteran 18-20ppg scorer and elite floor stretcher should become very attractive to contenders once the commitment is closer to 2yr/$39mil.

cunimus
November 2, 2020 6:43 pm
Reply to  furious.d

I agree. Hield is owed over $80M on his contact. With his defensive and creation limitations, it makes that a negative value contract right now.

SierraSpartan
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November 2, 2020 9:32 am

I just like the fact that this speculation is coming out of some other team’s GM office and not Sacramento’s.

Baby steps…

Last edited 3 years ago by SierraSpartan
Murf
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November 2, 2020 9:33 am

Oh so this is what its like when you have a competent front office

NorCalKingsFan
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November 2, 2020 8:05 pm
Reply to  Murf

exactly, this is what you say right up until he gets traded

Murf
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November 3, 2020 9:32 am
Reply to  NorCalKingsFan

They may trade him and I’m not against that necessarily, but if you are going to trade players it makes sense to me that you negotiate from a position of strength or at least par. To me that’s what McNair appears to be doing as opposed to the previous regime

Wonderchild
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November 2, 2020 9:40 am

So the Kings are going to keep Buddy, re-sign Bogdan, and are drafting a guard. Something’s got to go.

But this report seems like pure conjecture. Most likely a GM with a good rep with Buddy’s agent trying to stir up some interest for his client.

eurostep
eurostep
November 2, 2020 10:11 am

I said this in a earlier post, I think McNair will get Buddy and Walton together in the same room and iron this out. Buddy’s shooting is too valuable. Also, I think whomever is the defensive coach on the staff can tutor Buddy into becoming a better defender.

ForKingsandCountry
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November 2, 2020 10:48 am

I mean this does seem like the best way to try and rebuild his value a little bit. I would guess there would be quite a few teams who would be interested in a shooter of his caliber but there is no reason to sell him for less than he’s worth. He’s just signed a new deal so he really doesn’t have any leverage and I’m hoping there can be some front office input if the team doesn’t play up tempo like they should be. I have to believe that if the team isn’t playing the style they should be that Walton will be gone and Gentry will take over as the interim. I don’t think Gentry is a very good coach but at least his team’s have played at a faster pace.

BeTheBall
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November 2, 2020 10:50 am

I get the feeling that Buddy’s future will be partly determined by what offers Bogi gets. If Bogi can be retained for around $14, then I see the Buddy talks ramping up quickly.

Inthestarz
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November 2, 2020 11:38 am

Team won’t get value for him, so better rebuild his value

SelecaoKOJ
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November 2, 2020 1:27 pm

It’s all a typical smokescreen, don’t show your hand diatribe. No one knows for sure. I say trade him now. He probably won’t be here when the Kings are competing for a playoff spot. The Kings are easily 2-3 years from getting back there in the West.

Sacto_J
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November 2, 2020 2:07 pm

I’m at a point with Buddy (based off of his behavior / PR stuff lately) where it would be hard to care less. I don’t think his shooting is irreplaceable and wouldn’t mind not having to watch him go 0-9 for 3 qtrs before finally finding the target after he remembers there’s other ways to score in a game besides jacking 3s.
Yeah, he’s talented, but he also seems kinda not-very-smart. There’s not enough high BBIQ guys on this team to make up for his boneheadedness so if you get a jumbo bag of chips for him at this point we’d at least be moving forward from another bad decision from a bad front office. Cut bait and move on. I don’t do well with guys who bitch and complain constantly and can’t find ways to be productive on the court (or worse, low-key sabotage your ability to win cuz they’re just not very smart. Ahem. Walton. Ahem.)

Kingsguru21
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November 2, 2020 6:51 pm

I’ll keep saying it: I think how solvent ownership is the biggest issue here. And Buddy might get traded in a lowball manner as a result.

Basketball wise? I don’t see the big hurry to trade Buddy, but that’s not how the NBA or the real world works.

jwalker1395
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November 5, 2020 4:07 pm

Still, here’s one I’d consider:

Suns get: Hield, Bagley, #12, 2021 1st (top-10 protected), 2020 2nd

Kings Get: Booker

smcornel03
November 12, 2020 5:23 pm

This likely means he is gone. I imagine a deal to the 76ers gets done. Horford + 21 for Buddy. Kings add vet presence who fits nicely next to Bagley and Mcnair gets another pick to fill out the young talent as he sees fit.

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