NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Could Upgrade Shooting By Adding Sacramento Kings Sniper

The Los Angeles Lakers bulking up their outside shooting arsenal spells downright danger for the rest of the NBA. And with all factors considered, the guys in purple and gold may not need to look further away as they are linked to Sacramento Kings shooter Buddy Hield.

Bleacher Report laid down some interesting trade projections on Tuesday, including a possible deal that would send the 27-year-old over to L.A., forming a formidable offensive trio along with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

“(The Lakers) could use an elite backcourt shooter who can thrive off the attention paid to both James and Davis,” the article read. “Enter Buddy Hield, who the Sacramento Kings benched midseason despite giving him an extension last summer that will pay up to $106 million.”

Hield has likewise exhibited a drastic improvement in his game, which makes the Kings' move of instantly limiting his playing minutes even more eyebrow-raising.

From playing – and starting – in all 82 games last season, the fourth-year guard found himself coming off the bench 20 times in 64 games this year. And while he was able to keep his numbers at par with his career averages in 2019, present indications suggest the Kings could be sending him elsewhere as they are “intent” on re-signing Bogdan Bogdanovic instead.

The Kings, who continue to struggle in breaking out of the slump, could modify their weapons by adding more depth, at the same time clearing off some financial space by letting go of Hield’s massive contract.

Save for contingencies, the projection has the 6’4 sharpshooter being dealt with the Lakers in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, and Quinn Cook.

“A deal near the draft would need to include Richaun Holmes and Justin James from Sacramento to the Lakers. But if it's done after the moratorium, the Kings could keep Holmes and James to legally execute a five-for-one trade.

“The Lakers would get their shooter. The Kings would erase their over-investment in Hield and add Kuzma with relatively inexpensive depth.

“To make a deal legal, Caldwell-Pope, McGee, and Rondo would each need to opt into their respective contracts; Cook's $3 million for next season would also need to be guaranteed.”

The Lakers starting their quest for a reliable long-range sniper could be tougher than what it may seem. But with a deal fit to serve a win-win situation for both the Pacific rivals, it would not be surprising to see Hield suit up for the Lakeshow fans come the 2021 season.