NBA Trade Rumors: 3 Reasons why Buddy Hield is the perfect fit for LA Lakers

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2. Another potential 20-point scorer for LA Lakers

Buddy Hield #24 looks to pass ahead of John Wall #1.

Of the 31 players who averaged 20+ points per game last season, Buddy Hield and Steph Curry were the only to shoot over 42% from 3. You just don’t know this about Buddy, because he is in Sacramento. He’s BIG time. pic.twitter.com/bowID7V05v

— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) October 17, 2019

Two seasons ago, Buddy Hield averaged 20.7 points per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from 3-point territory. He was the team’s leading scorer at the time, with no one else averaging more than 20 points a night.

As someone who lived primarily on the perimeter with no other legitimate threat, Buddy Hield’s scoring average is more outstanding considering the lack of defensive attention on his teammates. His ability to knock down shots from the outside with regularity gives the LA Lakers another player who can ease some of the offensive burden on the shoulders of James and Davis.

No one from among Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell developed into 20-point scorers last season. The closest to that average was Schroder, but he only put up 15.4 points a night.

During a down year last season, Hield posted a 16.6-points-a-game average, which is better than what Schroder was able to post. Can you imagine how many points Hield would average with a creator like James and a post-up player like Davis?

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1. Buddy Hield would improve LA Lakers’ 3-point shooting

Buddy Hield #24 attempts a three-point basket.

The Golden State Warriors (21) and Sacramento Kings (20) combined for an NBA-record 41 3PM last night! 👏Steph Curry led the Warriors with 10 triples, whilst Buddy Hield knocked down 8 for the Kings 🔥Here is EVERY three-pointer from the game ☔️ pic.twitter.com/DW7fMCCroS

— NBA UK (@NBAUK) January 6, 2019

During the 2020-21 regular season, the LA Lakers ranked 25th in 3-pointers made per game (11.1), 24th in 3-pointers attempted per game (31.2) and 21st in 3-point shooting percentage (35.4%). Their inability to make 3-pointers resulted in the LA Lakers tying the Charlotte Hornets for 22nd in the entire NBA in scoring average (109.5).

Last season alone, Buddy Hield made 39.1 percent of his 3-pointers and made a career-high 282 threes total. He was second only to the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry who made 337. The next highest 3-point total on the Sacramento Kings was 121 which was registered by rookie Tyrese Haliburton.

Buddy Hield’s inclusion on the LA Lakers roster next season would improve their 3-point shooting by leaps and bounds. By comparison, the Lakers' top 3-point makers were Kuzma (137) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (120). Even if you were to combine their output (257), they would still be 25 3-pointers short of Hield’s total for the season.

Additionally, Buddy Hield’s total 3-pointers made last season is 35.4 percent of the LA Lakers’ total. That’s more than one-third of their threes which shows how inept they truly were from beyond the arc last season, and how Hield can be an asset to them next season.

If the LA Lakers want changes, they have to find a way to get Buddy Hield to wear a purple and gold jersey next season.

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