Sacramento Kings: 2017-18 player grades for Buddy Hield

Final grade

So, yeah, Ranadive probably jumped the gun when comparing Hield to Curry. At least he didn’t go full-on LaVar Ball and say that Hield was better than Curry and could lead the Warriors to a title. That would have been as ridiculous as Lonzo Ball‘s shooting motion. This season showed that Hield isn’t at Klay Thompson‘s level, let alone Curry’s.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Hield won’t develop into a useful NBA player. His 16.1 Player Efficiency Rating (15.0 is league average) suggests that he already is. He just needs to tweak a few things to get better.

That includes refining his playmaking and continuing to improve on defense. He has shown flashes in both of those categories, but he has to become more consistent if the Kings want to improve in the standings.

At age 24, Hield probably won’t blossom into a superstar player. He may never reach the lofty heights that the Kings owner thinks he can ascend to. But in a league where quality 3-and-D wings are scarce, Hield could become a commodity that is almost as rare as a superstar and almost as expensive. Hield isn’t Steph Curry, but to justify his place on this Kings’ roster, he doesn’t have to be.

Next: 5 biggest takeaways from the 2018 NBA Finals

Grade: B-