Buddy Hield did not have the most memorable stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he did enjoy a considerably long stretch of being a solid contributor after leaving the franchise. As such, it is quite surprising to see him rot on the bench for the Hawks, his current ball club. A new trade rumor suggests he could get shipped to a different landing spot, but his possible destination offers absolutely no relief for the veteran in his quest for more playing time.
As reported by NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Hawks and the Hornets have had discussions about a trade framework that has Hield moving to Charlotte in exchange for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith. The longtime sharpshooter would certainly welcome a fresh start with another squad, but the Hornets are likely only going to be another source of headache for the former 76ers guard.
Former 76ers vet Buddy Hield could be traded to another icky destination
This past season, Hield started out the season as a key rotation piece for the Warriors. However, his three-point shooting –– his best trait –– took a major step back, leading to him getting shoehorned as part of the Jonathan Kuminga trade that sent him to the Hawks. Atlanta had very little use for him, so he ended up in Quin Snyder's doghouse.
Hield badly needs a new team, but the Hornets are actually similarly constructed to the Hawks in that they do not have a practical use for another mouth to feed in the backcourt. Charlotte shipped All-Star guard LaMelo Ball away this summer to free up minutes and touches for their other guards, so the team is likely not going to be backpedal on that and suddenly give a lot of playing time to Hield should he get sent there.
In theory, Hield should be a great fit for the Hornets' three-point-heavy offensive style. But in reality, Charlotte already has a slew of players who can replicate, if not exceed, what the veteran is capable of doing from beyond the arc and then some with the likes of Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Grayson Allen, Coby White, and even Dennis Schroder.
While getting moved out of Atlanta would be good for Buddy Hield, Charlotte is not exactly the kind of landing spot that would allow him to repair his value. The former 76ers veteran needs a new team that can mask his deficiencies, although whether there is such a thing at this juncture remains to be seen.
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