Lakers Rumors: Reports claim Lakers interest in a deal for Buddy Hield

Lakers fans haven’t heard this in Lakers rumors in a while…YES!

There has been a litany of misinformation in the Lake Show Life comment sections that have caused confusion on the options of getting players like Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal or Chris Paul. Let the staff put this to rest with a quote from The Athletic’s, Shams Charania…

"The Lakers used their treasure chest of assets — such as promising young players in Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, and draft picks — in the Davis trade with New Orleans in 2019, which makes a superstar trade for a player like Beal or a superstar signing like Paul impossible. … For the Lakers, the offseason is expected to be a quest for a third playmaker and shot-creator — not a faulty pursuit for a star player."

Buddy Hield is not a star, but he’s an easier acquisition than the players listed above. Let’s crunch the numbers.

Comparing Kyle Kuzma and Buddy Hield’s contracts: 

Kuzma:

Last offseason, Kuzma signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension that starts during upcoming the 2020-21 season. He is scheduled to be paid $13 million.

Hield:

Buddy’s contract runs  through the 2023-24 season with $63 million left on his deal. HOWEVER…it is a declining deal that pays him $22.8 million this year, $20.8 million in 2022-23 and $18.9 million in its final year.

With Hield making close to $23 million this year to Kuzma’s $13 million, the Lakers have to include assets to pull this deal off.

What are the options for the Los Angeles Lakers?

• If Montrezl Harrell opts into his player option at $9.7 million, his contract fits perfectly into the trade. However, it’s HIS option and his contract decision is up in the air until July 31. Then you have to assume that he would want to go to a Sacramento team full of power forwards.
• The Lakers could offer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who is owed $13 million this coming season and another $14 million during the 2022-23 season. The kicker to sell to the Kings is that only $4.9 million of the second year is guaranteed. KCP’s addition would add another $3 million to the Kings’ salary cap for this season, but he played for Walton.
• Finally, the Lakers could throw in their 2021 first-round pick. Even though their 22nd pick is not eligible to be traded until after the draft, L.A. can trade their 2027 first-rounder and numerous second-rounders over the next half-decade.

As of this writing, the Lakers have quite a number of guards that are unrestricted or restricted free agents this summer, so if they want to add a sharpshooter like Buddy Hield to help spread the floor and allow Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis room to operate…\

Make the deal.