Veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield is seemingly always involved in trade rumors, and it doesn't seem like that's going away this offseason.
Veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield is seemingly always involved in trade rumors, and it doesn't seem like that's going away this offseason.
According to a report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Atlanta Hawks guard has "remained in potential trade conversations" after having his salary guaranteed.
"Meanwhile, after the Hawks fully guaranteed Buddy Hield’s $9.66 million salary for the 2026-27 season, the 33-year-old sharpshooter has remained in potential trade conversations," Scotto wrote.
Hield is currently under contract for the 2026-27 season and has a player option for the 2027-28 season valued at roughly $10 million.
The journeyman came over to the Hawks before the trade deadline this past season, making Atlanta the sixth team he's played for in the NBA.
Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a role with the Hawks after the trade, appearing in just seven games and averaging 7.3 minutes per contest. He then appeared in just two playoff games.
Overall, he appeared in just 51 games this past season, a strange sight for a player who frequently plays entire 82-game seasons. He even appeared in 84 games a couple seasons back, a strange quirk that came as a result of a trade.
Hield is getting older, but he can still be a dangerous shooter. He is a career 39.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc and has also shown to be a very good postseason shooter in his few trips to the playoffs over the years.
There is certainly appeal there for teams in need of shooting, though his shaky role this past season might hurt his value a bit. The Hawks may very well be able to find a landing spot for the former No. 6 overall pick this offseason but probably shouldn't expect anything huge in return.
There was some smoke connecting Hield to the Miami Heat earlier this offseason, but now that his salary for the 2026-27 season is guaranteed, it's unclear what his exact market looks like. The Heat could use some shooting help after making a huge splash last month in which they acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt.
The Hawks, for their part, are trying to position themselves for success this coming season and beyond after trading away former franchise star Trae Young in January. Atlanta made the playoffs this year after trading Young, but the team was ultimately eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks.
