The Lakers still have interest in Kings sharpshooter Buddy Hield, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, who said in the latest episode of his Posted Up podcast that Los Angeles has reached out to Sacramento to inquire on Hield and to discuss a package that includes Talen Horton-Tucker (hat tip to Bleacher Report).
While Hield might be a pretty good fit on a Lakers roster that could use another outside threat, this concept appears somewhat impractical. Hield has a cap charge of $23MM+ this season, so matching his salary would require L.A. to send out Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and three minimum-salary players.
A five-for-one framework is unlikely to appeal to Sacramento, even with draft assets attached, since it would require so many available roster spots. It’s not surprising that Haynes says the Kings continue to explore other options, believing there are more favorable deals out there.
The Lakers had an opportunity to acquire Hield from the Kings during the 2021 offseason and reportedly gained momentum toward an agreement. However, Los Angeles ultimately decided to use multiple assets that would’ve been included in a package for Hield – such as Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell – to land Russell Westbrook in a deal with Washington.
The Lakers are known to be shopping Horton-Tucker, Nunn, and their 2027 first-round pick as they seek roster reinforcements. Horton-Tucker and Nunn are the only players on the roster earning less than the maximum and more than the minimum, but their combined cap hit of $14.5MM couldn’t be used to acquire a player earning more than $18,225,000 unless L.A. expanded the package by adding minimum-salary players.
No to Buddy
They should be looking at Barnes who matches with just Nunn and Tht and fits the ledger/roster like a glove
Pretty solid deal for Sac as well assuming they lift most the protections on the 27′ pick. Sac will have other offers/match opps avail w Barnes but that offer should compete at least and should be floated if it hasn’t already been by the Lakers
.So what is so great about THT? His stats don’t shine as a great player. looks more like a second team guy off the bench. is there something i am missing that makes him so good? his value seems to be dropping.
Im not a THT fan in all honesty, and yes his value most certainly has dropped in NBA circles this year
The 27′ pick is the main prize here
The hope is Sac see’s all these Lakers who have shined out of LA like Randle Kuzma Ball Ingram Nance Thomas Bryant etc and bites the apple on a salary match in hopes THT follows suit. Im weary he ever will but I was the same on Randle and somewhat Ball when he was here too and they proved me wrong
Sac almost has to bet on the come today whatever trades they make. It’s noweher ideal but it’s the baggage that comes with having made bad moves for the last decade under Vlade and Co
He’s shown flashes at times and he’s 21, that’s about it. Trading for him your banking on improvements based on age
Looking at his stats from last year there is no improvement. More minutes and more opportunity and he has not became a better player.
Maybe expectations were too high for THT. I can’t see how the Lakers can improve, but if somehow they can get Hield they should. He’s a defensive sieve and has questionable decision making ability but maybe a change of scenery and veteran ball handlers can get him going and locked in. Lakers need shooting, and he needs a new team.
I don’t think expectations were all that high for the 46th pick in the draft. Over hyped maybe but I just don’t think his numbers ever warranted it.
Several teams wanted to make a deal for THT in the offseason due to his strong play last year and the Lakers refused to trade him. They also gave him a pay raise making him the 140th best paid player in the league. I’d say they had expectations. I remember hearing Lakers fans chiming about him being a steal and not to trade him as he is a key piece. That’s fine but at 21 and still developing he really should be making 2-3mil, not 9.5. They bumped him up to make more than Trae Young, Shai, Evan Mobley, Lamelo, Seth Curry, RJ Barrett, Alex Caruso, Jaren Jackson, M.Porter Jr, Wendell Carter, Darius Garland to name a few. Heck, Jah Morant is making 9.6, Doncic is making 10, and Pelinka is smoking rocks.
Depend on what Kings view on Horton Tucker
Horton Tucker is the next big thing
Or
Horton Tucker is an overpaid bum
Kings want to upgrade the roster
THT has little value, the Lakers messed up trading for Westbrick. The kings will get infinitely better trade packages from other teams. The Lakers have nothing of value to offer.
I agree
@thefallensoldier… SAC has been shopping Buddy for over a year… & got nothing for him… so it is very brave & out there for you to say that they will get infinitely better trade packages than what LAL will offer them, right?
As someone who’s pushed for a Buddy trade for the last 18 months, El Don is extremely correct. Either McNair is the worst GM of all time or nobody wants Buddy enough to make a move worth it. I’d say 50/50 at this point
Sac would be doing LA a favor when they could use those pieces for a better fit deal with Philadelphia, Detroit, Indiana. Heck Portland could use some of what Sac has. Think of the pieces that could benefit Sac. So I was thinking of a crazy 4 way deal.
Team gains:
Sac: Simmons, Harris, Turner, McCollum
Phi: Fox, Hield
Por: Barnes, Mitchell
Ind: Holmes, Bagley
Why? Sac gets more fire power. Philly has shooting and speed. Portland obtains affordable defense and talent. Indy gets to cut cost, and have a decent center and could get a pick for taking on Bagley etc.
as a Kings fan — yes, sign me up, but doubt we’d see something like that happen. Philly would want more.
Scared to see what we do at the deadline… I feel like we’ll make stupid “win-now” moves for Monte to save face as GM instead of a true rebuild, which we’ve needed forever.
No way those teams allows that to happen . That some fantasy land trade right there
This is a shameful trade proposal. Pacers yield half year of Bagley and Holmes for BOTH Turner and Sabonis. News flash, Pacers get more in return for ONE of those players.
Buddy Hield is mos def interested in Buddy Hield.
As continue to say why would anyone help LBJ win anymore. The entire NBA needs to stop helping any LBJ teams.
Definitely not top 5 but getting close.
Lakers definitely need a consistent 3-pt shooter but they also need a point guard other than Lebron. I’m not a Russ hater, he has his skills, but shooting and true point aren’t it. He’s his own weird hybrid. Ideally, Lakers should get a point guard who can also shoot but that’s gonna cost. They also need a 3 and D wing. They could also upgrade at Center, replace DJ with a young big who hustles on D and can at least be a threat from deep. Obviously Baze is taking up space and needs to go and unfortunately I think Ariza is washed as well. Ellington also not doing much. They don’t seem to want to pass to him and he’s inconsistent even when wide open. I think a fresh group of ‘end of the benchers’ could outperform Baze/Ariza/Wayne easily.
Lakers wish they could make a Russ THT and a first trade for Buddy and Barnes.
LBJ Monk Barnes AD Howard would actually make a decent starting 5 with Nunn Buddy Ariza and Melo off the bench.
THT is a negative asset. HS, college, pros he’s shows he can’t shoot. A team should be charging the Lakers to take THT and his contract, not getting anything of value back. At least a 2 or 2 2s for agreeing to put somebody making 10 million on the court that’s guaranteed to be a negative on offense.
Why would they want Heild? Sure he can hit a three pointer 40% of the time but he is nonexistent on defense. He will go rogue and start chucking up shots when he doesn’t feel he is involved enough in the offsense. Lebron would eventually lose his sh*t watching Helid launch contested 3’s with 18 seconds left on the shot clock
Trade Fox and Hield for Westbrook and all unprotected picks and pick swaps Lakers can offer.
It is more likely that RW will get Kings to po this year than Fox, and then Kings are clearing of the hook 50m next year. Great deal for them.
Thats a joke right?