We may still be a month and a half away from NBA teams being able to sign free agents and make trades but you can bet Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office are already discussing strategic moves to remain atop the NBA.
And they know for certain that the front offices of the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors are already starting to put together plans to catch and surpass the Lakers next year. That means standing pat and rolling out the same roster that dominated and won the championship this year is not an option. If the Lakers want a chance to repeat and keep a threepeat alive, they need to get better.
That means Pelinka working with his front office and coaching staffs to identify the team’s needs and pulling off the right moves to fix the roster’s shortcomings and make next year’s Lakers an even better and deeper team. Heading the list of Lakers’ needs are a third scorer and elite 3-point shooter they can trust to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which could be challenging considering the Lakers’ limited trade assets.
The first candidate we’re going to consider to fill that role is Sacramento Kings’ shooting guard Buddy Hield, who lost his starting job last season after having signed a 4-year $84 million extension that takes effect next season. The 27-year old, 6’4,” 220 lbs Hield is a 5-year NBA vet who averaged 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 30.8 minutes per game last year, shooting 42.9% from the field, 39.4% from deep, and 84.6% from the line.
What are the Terms of the Proposed Trade?
The basic parameters of the trade would be 25-year old, 3-year veteran power forward Kyle Kuzma and 33-year old, 11-year veteran shooting guard Danny Green for 27-year old, 5-year veteran shooting guard Buddy Hield.
Should the Lakers be determined to land Hield and the Kings demanding a sweetener, the Lakers could include the 28th pick in the first round of the November 18 draft or talented young shooting guard Talen Horton-Tucker.
Why Would the Lakers Agree to the Trade?
Hield would give the Lakers the reliable third scorer and elite 3-point shooter they need to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Buddy is a proven 20-points per game scorer and career 41.1% shooter from deep. While he’s not the defender Green is, he’s six years younger and exactly what the Lakers need offensively. He also has the size and athleticism to be a better defender when immersed in Frank Vogel’s defense-first culture.
While the Lakers love Kyle Kuzma’s growth as a defender, playmaker, and rebounder, the reality is he’s a starter quality player who plays the same positions as the team’s two superstars and their most valuable trading chip. The timing is also right now to move Kuzma, who will become a restricted free agent after next season and will certainly attract offers worthy of a starter, especially if he improves his average 3-point shooting prowess.
As for Danny Green, he’s still been one of the Lakers’ highest ranked players when it comes to net ratings and plus/minus despite struggling at times with his 3-point shooting and on-ball defense against small, quicker guards. While the Lakers will miss Green’s leadership and defense, Hield can slide right into Green’s starting slot and give the Lakers’ that elusive third scorer and elite 3-point shooter they need to complement LeBron and AD.
Why Would the Kings Agree to the Trade?
It’s obvious Buddy Hield has a problem with Sacramento head coach Luke Walton, who demoted him to the bench in favor of Bogdan Bogdanovic despite the Kings having just signed him to a 4-year, $84 million extension. Now that Walton’s been given a vote of confidence from new Kings general manager Monte McNair, it’s almost a certainty Hield will be moved, especially since he’s apparently refused to return coach Walton’s calls.
Luke Walton has always been a fan of Kuzma and the Kings and Lakers had discussions before the last trade deadline involving Kyle and Bogdan Bogdanovic, whom the Kings obviously view as Buddy Hield’s replacement. Green could slide right into Hield’s backup two guard role and give the Kings needed perimeter defense and veteran leadership. Replacing the disgruntled Hield with Green would help Walton build team chemistry.
Swapping Hield’s 4-year, $84 million deal with Green’s $15 million expiring contract makes good business sense for the small market Kings considering the uncertain economy the team is facing due to the coronavirus pandemic. The trade would also give new GM Monte McNair financial flexibility going forward. Beside addition by subtraction, it would give the Kings a chance to see what Kuzma and Green can bring without a long term commitment.
What Are the Chances the Trade Happens?
Predicting a trade in today’s NBA is like picking 100 to 1 long shots because there are so many moving pieces and other possible options for teams and many trades simply happen because of the relationships between GMs. While Buddy Hield is going to be traded, the big questions are always what do the Kings think about Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma and what are other teams willing to offer. Hield is a talented young player who will be coveted.
There’s been no shortage of NBA teams rumored to have interest in trading for Buddy Hield. At the top of the list are the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers. We’ll have to wait until the NBA and NBPA agree when teams can sign free agents and trade players to find out but we know the Kings like Kuzma, Green’s a great short term fit, and the trade frees up options for McNair.
There are bigger targets the Lakers could pursue and there’s always the issue of not wanting to commit to more than 1-year deals to save cap space to chase Giannis but there’s also the pressure with LeBron to win now. Frankly, the Lakers might be wise to jump at the opportunity to trade Kuzma and Green for a proven young talent like Hield rather than waiting and gambling again like they did with Kawhi. Hield would be a perfect fit.
I have a hunch this offseason is going to be as unique and unprecedented as this wild and crazy season was. Right now it looks like the NBA and NBPA have some big decisions to make about the salary cap, when to start free agency and trades, and maybe whether to allow teams to amnesty a contract to give teams the opportunity to clean their books and upgrade their rosters. The word is the real offseason will start by Dec 1st.
I know there are a lot of bigger targets to chase than Buddy Hield but I think he may be one of the more realistic and attainable upgrades the Lakers might actually be able to pull off this offseason. He would give the Lakers a proven 20-points per game scorer and elite 3-point shooter the Lakers lacked and make them a much better team without sacrificing a lot. Those who think Danny Green has no value are ignoring his excellent net rating and plus/minus stats and expiring contract.
There’s also the increasing likelihood that we may have to use our $9.5 million non-taxpayer MLE to keep Rondo, Morris, and maybe Howard, who all deserve raises from their minimum contracts. So we may not be able to use the MLE for the the scorer and elite shooter we need. Relationships are important and we know Luke likes Kuz and they need defense and an expiring Danny Green is a better option than taking on a big contract like Horford from Philly. I think there’s a shot Hield might be a Laker.
After come consternation, I do think we need an upgrade in the backcourt even though I would love to see us go after a stretch five to go with AD like Aron Baynes, Myles Turner, or Christian Wood. Just think it would be harder to pull off those deals than going after Buddy. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Turner would be a good one. Hield would be good one as well. Let’s not get Horford or those old (like me) codgers!
?The other thing is do we really know what we have THT
I think Tom you would be better suited for NASCAR, because with you and your trade scenarios it’s always “Silly Season”.
LOL. I think it’s disingenuous is to call the idea of the Lakers trading Green and Kuzma for Hield a “silly season” proposal. Trades by definition are always long shots but I support each of my proposals with what I believe is sound logic and intelligent analysis.
No disrespect but I have no problem with anybody reading the article and calling out my reasoning and conclusions but please give me the respect of matching the effort I made in writing the article by detailing why you think it’s silly. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Do you?
I like that trade & calm down boys, “we are the Champions of the world!”
DJ2KB24 great point. Buddy Hield is going to be a major trade target this off-season. Tom, I know it comes off as disingenuous and for that, I apologize but I approach it from the standpoint of what I hear and read from the other NBA markets and insiders and also from the standpoint of what would the GM on the other side realistically would take. Other teams have more appealing assets they could throw at SAC (even with a #1 pick included) that are more likely to get Hield. Now if you were looking at a Derrick Rose, DJ Augustin, or even taking on the huge contract of Chris Paul that could be a different story. But we will have some fun talking trades on next week’s show.
No problem, Gerald. We’ll have to A2D. I still believe trading for Hield is a possibility because of Kuzma’s relationship with Luke and the Kings’ previous interest in him.
The question will really be how low will teams desperate to shed a few million go to get to their bottom line be? All these teams can’t get top shed dollar, how does that battle bear out? A lot depends on if the Lakers can convince Rondo to sign for the exception. Might be able to make a lot more, more of a role in the east.
I think we also get our Bi-annuasl exception, so between that and the RE I think they max out at $9.2 mil for the RE and $3.6 mil for the BA…? Having Kuz, Caruso and even Danny’s deals to get into the season and see what the buyers market at the deadline could be the way to go. If Milwaukee looks vulnerable…could they trade G? There will be $$ cap bumps
Anyhow, feels like such a fluid situation, hard to land on a plan of action.
Good comments, Jamie. I just wrote an article on the Lakers Free Agent Plans that covers how we can use Bird rights for KCP, Early Bird rights for Rondo, and BAE for Morris, and save MLE for a scorer, playmaker, wind defender, or stretch big.