Hield could be looking for a way out of Sacramento

It was not the season that Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield expected with the Sacramento Kings, and now there are reports that he and Kings Head Coach Luke Walton are at odds. The relationship has soured, according to reports, and Hield is not answering Walton’s calls.

NBA Writer for The Athletic Jason Jones reported on Friday that the Bahamian is not happy with the situation that he is in, in Sacramento, and might be looking for a way out. The Athletic is a subscription-based sports website that covers stories from top professional and college sports leagues including the National Basketball Association (NBA).

While rumors are out there that there might be some interest from the Philadelphia 76ers for Hield, it has just been that – rumors.

NBC Sports Bay Area Reporter James Ham wrote that the Kings are expecting Hield to be ready for training camp.

“According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Kings understand that it’s the offseason. They know that Hield is a tireless worker and they expect him to be ready for the start of training camp and the season, whenever that might be,” Ham wrote.

Hield and the Kings were in the bubble competing for the eighth seed in the Western Conference in the NBA back in August. They were able to finish with a 3-5 win-loss record in the bubble and a 31-41 overall record on the season to finish 12th in the Western Conference.

The Kings have not made the playoffs since the 2005-2006 season when Rick Adelman was the head coach. They have had 10 different head coaches since then.

Since bubble play, the Kings have hired a new a general manager, Monte McNair, after Vlade Divac stepped down from that position. At his introductory press conference, McNair threw his support behind Walton, saying, “Luke’s going to be our coach next year. I’m really excited to work with him.”

The new general manager also spoke highly of Hield’s ability.

“I think we all know, in this league, spacing is of the utmost importance and Buddy is one of the absolute elite shooters in this league, and we’re going to be able to utilize that skillset as we implement our system,” McNair said.

Hield started the first 44 games of the season but was demoted to the second unit on January 24 after the team went on a downward trend.

The Eight Mile Rock native was not shy to voice his opinion during the season. After a double overtime loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves in December, he voiced his concerns about his benching and struggles.

“Seems like we’re all over the place – coaches and everybody. Trust issues going on, I guess. Guys stop believing in players. It is what it is. They have who they have playing out there and I just have to be supportive,” Hield stated. “I like to be on the court. That’s why I’m on the court, right? I want to make plays, make shots. I feel like I wasn’t trusted the past two games to be on the court.”

After the final game in the NBA restart, Hield was cryptic once more at a press conference.

“Y’all know me,” Hield stated. “Y’all know how I talk, y’all know how I feel with all the stuff. Y’all can read me well, so I’ll let y’all answer that for yourselves.”

One of the first issues that McNair will have to sort out is what to do with restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic who moved into the starting lineup for Hield at the end of January. Next season, Hield enters the first year of his four-year $94 million contract extension.

The Kings are hopeful that Hield and Walton can come to an understanding and end the Kings’ playoff drought together. Both have expressed an interest in winning.

The 6’4” guard had a respectable season. He averaged 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a little over 30 minutes per game. The fourth-year guard shot 42.9 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from distance. He hit 271 three-pointers in a shortened season and was on pace to surpass the franchise record of 278 three-pointers that he set last season before COVID-19 swopped in and shortened the season.

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