Luka Doncic thrives when supported by shooters on the perimeter. The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to do their part to start that shift. Unfortunately for them, a great option to further boost the offense just got taken off the board.
The Lakers started their deadline day by trading for Luke Kennard. The league leader in 3-point percentage — albeit on volume that leaves something to be desired — was a good start to helping fix the perimeter game on offense for a shooting-starved squad.
After the Golden State Warriors made their big move to acquire Kristaps Porzingis last night, many immediately began eyeing Buddy Hield, who was headed to the Atlanta Hawks.
Hield is only in the second season of his current contract. However a bunch of those latter years are not fully guaranteed. Anyone hoping the former Warriors sharpshooter would become available got dealt a crushing blow by Jake Fischer.
Fischer reported, "I'm told the plan is for Atlanta to keep both of Gabe Vincent and Buddy Hield."
Buddy Hield won’t be rerouted to the Lakers — disappointing many in LA
Hield is not a flawless player by any means. There is a reason the running gag about the Hield cycle exists in basketball discourse. However, when a team is crying out for spacing like the Lakers are, this was a swing that could have helped boost the offense.
This is not Hield's best year as a shooter. The 33-year-old is connecting on only 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Lakers would have loved to snag a version of him that is much closer to his career figure of 39.5. They won't get either.
Now, the question becomes: Where do the Lakers pivot from here?
Perhaps it might be to a name who is a little more adept at playing both ends of the court reliably. That would be Haywood Highsmith.
Michael Scotto just reported that Highsmith was waived by the Brooklyn Nets. That will add him to the growing list of targets available on the buyout market.
If the Lakers do not choose to go for someone like Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul, or Mike Conley to fill the backup point guard void left behind by Vincent, Highsmith makes a good deal of sense here. Granted, Los Angeles would need him to get healthy.
Hield would have been a better option for the Lakers than any of the names in question here — flawed as he may be. Los Angeles will need to make the most of the forced pivot.