Sacramento Kings: Luke Walton isn’t at fault for Buddy Hield’s issues

Much of the blame for Buddy Hield’s struggles has been placed on Sacramento Kings’ coach Luke Walton. But Hield has few excuses left for his current slump.

It wasn’t long ago when Buddy Hield was considered a valuable asset. During the fall of 2019 and coming off of one of the greatest shooting seasons in NBA history, Hield inked a hefty long-term contract extension with the Sacramento Kings, who hoped that he would continue his upward trajectory and production.

But Hield has hit a sort of wall. His game has never quite fit in to head coach Luke Walton’s system, who has been accused of misusing Hield since he was hired in 2019. Walton often opted to put the ball in Buddy’s hands and forced him to create, straying away from the catch-and-shoot that makes Hield such a deadly sniper. Previous coach Dave Joerger seemed to get the best out of the vocal shooting guard, something that Walton struggled with mightily during his first year at the helm.

During the 2019-’20 campaign, Hield’s usage rate was a career-high 27.2 percent, but his shooting percentages took a dip and his turnovers rose. He made critical mistakes in crucial moments. He was eventually benched in a move that led to a Kings’ resurgence in the win column.

The praise that Walton received from removing Hield from the starting lineup was dwarfed by the criticism he received early on for misusing him. How could any NBA coach be naive enough to make Buddy anything but a catch-and-shoot specialist?

As it turns out, Hield’s slump may not have been as much on Walton’s shoulders as we once thought.

This season, Walton and his coaching staff have tried something different. Much of the playmaking and creating is done by De’Aaron Fox and standout rookie Tyrese Haliburton, allowing Hield to return to a more familiar role. Through the Kings’ first 10 games, Hield’s usage is down to 20.4 percent, the lowest since the first half of his rookie season. This has resulted in a decrease in turnovers and an increase in catch-and-shoot opportunities. Unfortunately, he has done little to capitalize on them.

Hield is averaging nearly 9.8 3-point attempts per game but is making them at a career-worst 33.7 percent clip. His shots from inside the arc aren’t falling either, as he is hitting on just 37.2 percent of his 2-point field goals. Add it all up and one of the most prolific shooters in the league is shooting an abysmal 34.8 percent overall. Hield’s assist, rebound, and free throw numbers are all down, and he is averaging a career-high number of personal fouls.

Whatever the issues may be, the Sacramento Kings had better figure it out quickly. Hield has created trade speculation for himself in the past, but there is a good chance that Sacramento’s new management prefers to move him given his age and hit on the salary cap. If he is struggling with the one thing that makes him valuable above all else, then finding a deal with a proper return for Hield would prove difficult.

While it is true that any team in today’s league would be happy to acquire the reigning 3-point contest champion, one that is struggling with his shot, turns 29 next season, and is owed $63 million over the next three years is a tough sale.