On Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 made 3-pointers (350 games). Stephen Curry held the previous record, at 369 games.
Hield had 30 points against Charlotte, as he notably went 8-for-15 from beyond the arc. So maybe he’s starting to break out of a shooting funk (30.7 percent from 3-point range over his previous 12 games). In truth, his shooting funk has pretty much been season-long (36.9 from beyond the arc).
Hield’s contract, with three years and $62.5 million left, is a bit of an albatross for the Kings. He doesn’t fit well with De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton-Sacramento’s defense is a sieve with the three on the floor together. But in the right role, Hield is an asset.
With 10 losses in their last 11 games, the Kings are 13-21 and a clear trade deadline seller. Hield might come off as a salary dump, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Enter the Memphis Grizzlies. They are within range of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, with a case to make moves before the trade deadline. They are also 26th in the league in 3-point attempts (30.4 per game), and 21st in 3-point percentage (35.6 percent). Cleaning The Glass has Memphis bottom-5 in 3-point efficiency.
In his piece suggesting a trade for every team, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report has this move for the Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Buddy Hield
Sacramento Kings Receive: Gorgui Dieng, Justise Winslow
Dieng is on an expiring contract, so his inclusion is to make the money line up. Though a major hip injury sidelined him for a long time until just recently, Winslow still carries a perception of potential. The Grizzlies have seen him for just four games since acquiring him from Miami. Winslow scored 20 points in 20 minutes against Houston Sunday, but even at his healthy best he’s not a perimeter marksman.
If the Grizzlies can get a shooter, Winslow realizing his full potential elsewhere might be the cost of that business. And that can’t be considered more than a coin-flip to happen. The Grizzlies should be in on Hield, and the Kings might willing offload him.
