Breaking down 2016 NBA Draft prospect and possible Lakers pick Buddy Hield
The Los Angeles Lakers have had a rough go of it in the 2015-16 NBA season as the worst team in the Western Conference and one of the worst teams in the league as a whole. However, there’s potentially a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the 2016 NBA Draft.
As of Jan. 26, the Lakers have the second best odds in the league at nabbing the No. 1-overall pick in the 2016 draft that would add another top prospect to their roster in addition to lottery picks from the last two draft classes in Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell. This, of course, is assuming that their pick falls in the top-three and that it doesn’t transfer to the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the optimistic view that the Lakers keep their 2016 first-round pick, though, it’s important to assess the players who will be available and who have a high likelihood of being selected in the lottery. We’ve already broken down Duke freshman Brandon Ingram and Kentucky freshman Skal Labisseire. Now we’ll turn our attention to an upperclassman in Oklahoma senior guard Buddy Hield.
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There’s no 2016 NBA Draft prospect whose stock has been as rapidly on the rise as Hield’s has been through the first few months of the 2015-16 college basketball season. He’s the second-leading scorer in the country right now and turning heads with jaw-dropping performances seemingly at every turn. Though he was always going to be a quality prospect for the 2016 draft, he’s vaulted himself heavily into the lottery conversation and could continue to be on the rise through the heart of Big 12 play and then the NCAA Tournament.
So let’s dive right into an in-depth breakdown of Hield as an NBA prospect in terms of his game and how he would potentially fit with the Lakers.
Next: Physical Tools
Physical Tools
The first thing that comes to mind with Hield as an NBA prospect at shooting guard is the fact that he’s a bit undersized for the position at the next level. At just over 6-4, there are plenty of matchups in the NBA that would prove to problematic just in terms of shear size.
Moreover, his lack of height sometimes hurts him in terms of finishing around the rim. It’s not a consistent issue as Hield’s finishing has actually shown improvement from his junior season to this year, but it still shows itself on plays like this one against the Kansas Jayhawks:
However, Hield does have solid athleticism and length—boasting a wingspan just over 6-8—and has great speed in the open floor that can make him a huge threat when he gets out in transition. Also in terms of positives for Hield physically, he has the build and strength of an NBA player at the position, even if his height is problematic.
Though not technically a physical attribute, it’s important to note with Hield that he is, in fact, a senior and doesn’t have the upside in terms of growth that many of the freshman prospects in the 2016 draft class do simply due to their age. That being said, he’s also far more advanced in many aspects than many of those younger players.
Next: Offensive Breakdown
Offense
Coming into his senior season, one of the biggest knocks on Hield as a potential NBA prospect was his consistency shooting the basketball, particularly from the perimeter. However, Hield put in a tremendous amount of work this offseason and has become a lethal threat from the outside as he ranks eighth in the nation among qualified players in terms of three-point percentage at 51.7 percent on 7.9 attempts per game.
Even better, Hield is fantastic in terms of transition. Not only is he great at filling the proper lanes on the break and using his speed to get out ahead of the opposing defense, but also has knack for weaving through defenders and getting to the rim to either score or draw fouls. Moreover, he’s also an adept passer in transition—as well as otherwise—which sets up his offense in a big way:
Because of his proficiency as an outside shooter this season, it’s also sometimes overlooked as to what Hield can do in one-on-one situations in the halfcourt. With great ball-handling skills and body control, Hield can create his shot by getting into the lane and otherwise:
Offense is undoubtedly Hield’s best aspect of his game, but he does have a propensity for pressing at times, making him sometimes prone to turning the ball over. At the pro level, though with more high-end talent around him (yes, even on the Lakers), that may not be as big of an issue.
Next: Defensive Breakdown
Defense
Defense is unquestionably a mixed bag when it comes to Hield. Obviously his lack of size comes into play when he’s on that end of the floor. Bigger, taller two-guards have the ability to rise over him both to get off jumpers and in the lane getting off shots nearer to the rim.
However, Hield’s quickness and length do allow him to make some plays on the defensive end that are quite impressive. His speed allows him to ably recover off of hedges and his quickness in terms of his hands also allows him to disrupt the dribble of opponents and create turnovers:
Despite the positive things that his quickness allows him to do and the mistakes it sometimes allows him to recover from, Hield needs work in terms of his awareness and his technique. In both halfcourt and in transition, the senior guard has a tendency to have lapses that allow his man to get in position to score:
The potential for Hield to at least be a plus defender at the NBA level is there, even with his lack of size. However, the senior guard still needs to work on his overall form and technique on that end of the floor before that can become a reality.
Next: Mentality
Mental Make-Up
As always with draft prospects, it can be just a little bit tricky when it comes to assessing the mentality of a young man trying to make the leap from the world of college basketball to the NBA. However, there are still a handful of things that you can assess in terms of Hield’s mentality looking at what he’s shown and how he’s progressed over his career at Oklahoma.
Blue Man Hoop
For one, you have to love the work that he’s put in since his junior season with the Sooners. Evidenced by the leap in his performance and, as a result, his climbing draft stock heading into the 2016 NBA Draft, Hield put in a tremendous amount of work to be even more dangerous physically, but to also develop his offensive game to where he’s a more well rounded threat on that end of the floor.
Moreover, the way Hield has performed in big games as a leader for Oklahoma this season shows a tremendous feel for the moment and the willingness to step up when it’s necessary. While that’s obviously more difficult to accomplish against better competition in the NBA, that mentality is more than promising.
Also in regards to his mentality, the fact that Hield has spent four years at the college level is also a good sign for him heading into the NBA. There have been countless examples in recent draft classes of how that experience has helped players translate to the NBA and handle the trials of the pro game, all of which is good news for Hield.
Next: Fit With Lakers
Lakers Fit
Here’s where things get tricky for Hield. For starters, if the Lakers first-round pick falls in the top-three, taking Hield there right now would be a major reach for LA as even the most promising of evaluations of Hield don’t have him going that high. That’s not to say that can’t change with plenty of college hoops left to be played, but for now it’s certainly worth noting.
Moreover, the Lakers backcourt is currently too crowded as it is with the likes of Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Lou Williams all occupying roles in the rotation. However, if the Lakers were to unload Lou in a trade and potentially not be willing to pay the price that Clarkson demands this summer in restricted free agency, minutes could certainly open up for Hield in that regard.
While it’s not ideal to not have the size opposite of Russell in the backcourt—a problem the undersized Hield would mean for the Lakers—the prospect of Hield and Russell moving the ball and working from the perimeter is certainly enticing in terms of a guard duo for the future of the organization.
Next: A Prospective Look at the Lakers 2016-17 Roster
Hield is a strange case in terms of his current placement on both big boards and in terms of the fit on the current Lakers roster. However, if the cards fall right both for the rest of Hield’s senior season at Oklahoma and with the moves that the Lakers make going into the 2016 offseason, the Lakers could certainly do much worse than adding a polished player who still has some upside like Hield.