While Buddy Hield and the Sacramento Kings are preparing for next Wednesday’s season opener, the two sides are also working to beat next Monday’s extension deadline. Per Yahoo Sport’s Chris Haynes, the Sacramento Kings have an offer on the table for their shooting star, but Haynes reports the two sides are currently about $20 million apart in their asking price.

There’s an obvious middle ground between $90 and $110 million, and considering both Buddy’s desire to stay in Sacramento and his obvious value to the Kings foundation, I’m optimistic that a deal will be reached before Monday’s extension deadline. If the Kings don’t want to risk their good team vibes (read this piece from SB Nation’s Tom Ziller), it would be best for both parties to sign an extension and establish Hield as a long-term foundational piece of the franchise.

Still, the Kings have and will continue to hold leverage here; if a deal isn’t reached by Monday, Hield will enter next summer as a restricted free agent, and the Kings would have the rights to match any offer he receives. The clear risk for Sacramento would be another dynamic season from Buddy Buckets, which could increase his value past his current asking price.