Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking down a potential Buddy Hield trade

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on March 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images,)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on March 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images,)
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

Trade structure

The Los Angeles Lakers could offer Sacramento a package of Green and Kyle Kuzma to get Hield. In this way, the Kings would receive a veteran with championship experience who can help lead a young and tumultuous locker room, and a budding productive player, both on expiring contracts.

Should they be happy with their production, they could opt to re-sign them, otherwise, let them go and free up the cap space.

Trading Kuzma is not going to be an easy choice for Rob Pelinka. The youngster was a good spark off the bench for the purple and gold, especially in the playoffs. He also made an excellent job on the defensive end committing himself to the task.

Anyway, Markieff Morris was good too and was an instrumental piece. His offensive contribution was not as on the defensive end, but he still shot 42 percent from three in the postseason. And also got two starts.

If the Lakers have the chance to re-sign him, with the experience of this championship and a whole training camp on his back, he could better fit in Los Angeles’ game and replace Kuzma.

Also, the Kings could be so desperate to get rid of Hield’s huge contract and free up their cap space, to accept a deal which includes Danny Green and Quinn Cook, instead of Kuzma.

Financially the deal would not be too troublesome to make it work.

With Buddy’s contract starting at $24 million, the Lakers would send back Green’s $15 and Kuzma’s (or Cook’s) $3 million.