After a disappointing season where they couldn’t even make it to the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers have understandably been busy in the offseason. Signing younger players from the free agency, the Lakers have already transformed their rotation by not re-signing the veterans.
While the reports of the Lakers targeting Kyrie Irving are still going strong, it seems like the 2020 champions are targeting another player this offseason, former Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Buddy Hield. According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin, Rob Pelinka and the LA management have re-engaged trade talks with the Indiana Pacers for Buddy Hield.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TRkRBs5Il8
“There has been some talks reengaged between the Lakers and the Indiana Pacers. Now that would center around a Buddy Hield deal and could be a deal that could include Russell Westbrook if you’re also talking about having Myles Turner in that deal. Or perhaps it could be a secondary move where you would be talking about a Talen Horton-Tucker type of package to get Buddy Hield.”
Hield, who was almost traded to the Lakers last season, has been one of the best three-point shooters in the league, shooting almost 40% of his three-point attempts in his career. The Lakers really struggled in the three-point shooting department last season. Shooting only 34.7% from downtown, the 17-time champions ranked 21st in the league in terms of three-point shooting.
In a team which has players like LeBron James and Russell Westbrook who are very much capable of finding the open shooter, the lack of a good 3-point shooter was a real detriment to the Lakers.
With Hield on their side, though, the Lakers will finally have a consistent shooter in their ranks and will be a great off-the-ball option for the team. The Lakers going into the 2021-22 season, really hoped that Talen Horton-Tucker would take a step up, but despite an increase in his playtime, the 21-year-old never really could impress the team. Not only that, he had a dismal performance in terms of 3-point shooting.
If the Lakers want to bring in Hield, a package around Horton-Tucker seems likely. But the Pacers will be adamant about getting a first-round pick along with the young guard for a player of Buddy Hield’s caliber. Will the Lakers be willing to take such a risk?
