3. Trade for Buddy Hield
The Los Angeles Lakers were tied to Buddy Hield prior to trading for Russell Westbrook last summer and for the season offseason in a row, Hield is once more tied to the Lakers. The Indiana Pacers have been floated around as a potential trade partner for Russell Westbrook and now Hield’s name has entered the fray.
ESPN’s David McMenamin reported that the two sides have re-engaged in trade talks for Buddy Hield so a trade might just be a matter of if, not when (h/t CBS Sports).
.@mcten on the latest trade rumors surrounding the Lakers 👀
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 20, 2022
“There has been some talks reengaged between the Lakers and the Indiana Pacers that would center around a Buddy Hield deal.” pic.twitter.com/2GiNSYQhds
There are a few different ways that the Lakers could get Hield this offseason. The first is to simply dump Westbrook to Indiana for Hield and Myles Turner. The Lakers would have to send a first-round pick for this and might even have to throw in a second.
There is also the potential for Indiana to be the third team in a trade that takes on Westbrook’s deal for assets in return. There actually is a world in which the Lakers could get Kyrie Irving and Buddy Hield together.
The final potential trade the Lakers could make would be a package that is centered around Kendrick Nunn, Talen Horton-Tucker and probably some picks (potentially including a protected first). That is not the best package but is possible if the team has other ideas for Westbrook.
Hield’s shooting took a bit of a dive last season but he still has a lot to offer from an off-ball scoring perspective. He is a career 39.8% three-point shooter that has shot over 43% from beyond the arc in a season.
A realistic Russell Westbrook trade with the Knicks the Lakers can offer
The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to work out a trade with the New York Knicks involving Russell Westbrook. Here is what it could look like.
Hield certainly has his holes as a player but shooting is not one of them.