Sacramento Kings: Will Buddy Hield be traded to the Atlanta Hawks?

One of the biggest trade chips for the Sacramento Kings this offseason will be Buddy Hie ld. Could a trade with the Atlanta Hawks be in play?

The Sacramento Kings are under new management, and one of the first decisions that general manager Monte McNair will have to make what to do with Buddy Hield.

The 2019-20 season was a step back for Hield. After a breakout year the previous season and getting rewarded with a hefty contract extension, the sharpshooter’s percentages took a dip and his turnovers spiked. There are a handful of factors that contributed to the regression, including an injured backcourt running mate in De’Aaron Fox, and new head coaching philosophies. The relationship between team and player soured quickly, and Hield has dropped plenty of hints regarding his unhappiness in Sacramento.

Given his public displays of despondence and a new regime likely headed for a full-on rebuild, there is a good chance that Buddy Hield will soon be traded. Whether the player demands it or not, McNair would be wise to explore possible trade destinations for him. There are surely at least a handful of teams that would be interested in Hield’s services, and a deal should get done sooner rather than later. The NBA Draft is approaching, and now is the time to stock assets for a youth movement if you’re the Kings.

So where could Hield be dealt? While teams may be hesitant to part ways with their picks in what should be a loaded NBA draft in 2021, there are a few options for the Kings to gain capital in the 2020 version.

Sacramento owns the 12th overall pick in the upcoming draft, one that is neither deep nor top-heavy. But there are a handful of projected top-10 prospects that could fit into the Kings’ future plans. The possibility that one of them falls to the 12th pick exists, though it is unlikely. Could Sacramento use Hield as a trade chip to get themselves into the meat of the lottery?

One interesting potential partner for a trade-up is the Atlanta Hawks. According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Atlanta Hawks are exploring the possibilities of trading out of the 6th overall pick. In his latest mock draft, O’Connor actually has the Spurs trading up for the pick, but the Kings could be interested as well. A deal between Atlanta and Sacramento might look something like this:

The Hawks have loads of money to throw around and a roster that is already young. They could take on Hield’s contract and create potentially the second-most lethal shooting backcourt in NBA history. Receiving the 12th pick in return would allow them to remain in the lottery and add a lower-tier prospect to add to their rebuild.

The Kings would shed the money from Hield’s new deal, and move up to potentially draft his replacement. Not only would that contract issue be solved, but the Kings would also have their answer to the Hield/Bogdan Bogdanovic question. Sacramento certainly could not afford to keep both around during a rebuild, and it is possible that both have new homes at some point in the near future. The money saved from avoiding having to pay those two would set the Kings up nicely for the future.

As for the compensation, Sacramento could potentially ask for a role player or young prospect in a return in addition to the pick. Depending on how hot the market is for Hield, he and the 12th pick could be worth a bit more than just a move-up in the draft.

The issue with this hypothetical trade would be Atlanta’s reluctance. Pairing Hield with Trae Young would be an enticing prospect, but they would also create one of the most atrocious defensive backcourts in the league. Would the offensive production be enough to make up for the lack of prowess on the other end? Does Hield’s age fit with the Hawks’ timeline? The concerns may be too great for Atlanta.

The NBA Draft is now less than a month away, and the Sacramento Kings will be looking to add young capital sooner rather than later. Watch for Buddy Hield to be a constant in the rumor mill and for the team to be active on the transaction market.