The Sacramento Kings are once again going nowhere this season, and another rebuild might just be in order. Multiple Kings players — including Buddy Hield — are reportedly on the market as the NBA trade deadline looms this coming Thursday.
Sure enough, Hield is the one gaining the most interest from teams, given his outstanding performance for the struggling franchise.
Playing in his fourth year in Sacramento, the 27-year-old Bahamian has been averaging 20.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists while knocking down 42.6 percent of his shots from the field and 37.6 from downtown.
With guys like De'Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III, and Bogdan Bogdanovic all missing a considerable amount of games due to injuries, Hield has played in all of the Kings' 49 games so far.
It's no secret that Hield has had an up-and-down relationship with the Kings. He felt slighted when Sacramento supposedly low-balled him during contract extension talks over the summer.
Moving him might be tricky, considering he just agreed to a four-year, $94 million contract extension with bonuses that could reach $106M.
Still, shooting is considered a necessity in the league nowadays, and Hield could light it up with the best of them.
Let's take a look at three NBA teams who should go all out in trading for Hield.
Fielding a team brimming with young talent, the Mavs have managed to stay competitive in the crowded Western Conference at sixth place with a 31-9 record.
They might need a third star to break into the top four, and Buddy Hield might just be the right fit. The former Oklahoma product will form a nice Big 3 alongside Dallas' European stars Luka Doncic and Kristapz Porzingis.
He will also be a considerable upgrade to Tim Hardaway Jr., who could be included in a possible trade package if Dallas decides to pull the trigger.
The Mavs are in a curious predicament at the moment. The team is good enough to reach the playoffs but still not seasoned enough to actually contend. Acquiring Hield might just be their ticket to improve their chances come playoff time.
The Sixers haven't been terrible, but the team has not been as good as most thought they would be this year.
Josh Richardson has been decent, but he has been sidelined for the last five games due to a left hamstring injury. The Sixers do need shooting, as they are currently ranked 20th in the league in 3-point percentage at just 34.9 percent per game.
Enter Hield, whose 37.6 percent 3-pt shooting clip should definitely help alleviate the Sixers' woes. He'll be playing alongside elite playmaker Ben Simmons, who will set him up for much better looks than the ones he gets in Sacramento.
Adding a shooting threat of Hield's caliber will also compliment Joel Embiid's low-post game, as he will have more room to operate down low.
With rookie Ja Morant already looking like he'll be a star in the league, the Grizzlies are way ahead of schedule in their supposed rebuilding season.
The team is currently figuring in a tight race for the final two spots in the Western Conference playoff race. Memphis, however, will have to fend off more experienced teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs.
Adding a piece like Buddy Hield to compliment Morant on the backcourt might be the right move for the Taylor Jenkins-mentored squad. They'll likely have to part ways with some draft picks to make it happen, but they might need to do so to hold onto that eighth and final playoff slot.
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