The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The relationship between Buddy Hield and the Sacramento Kings appears to be unstable as the franchise continues its offseason.

According to a report by Jason Jones of the Athletic, Hield is no longer answering phone calls from Kings head coach, Luke Walton.

While Hield’s social media activity has fueled discussion on trade rumors, contrast reports suggest that the Kings are in no rush to deal the fourth year shooting guard who has become one of the elite three point shooters in the NBA.

“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,” James Ham of NBC Sports reported.

“A lot can change between now and the start of the 2020-21 season (or just 2021, as it might become due to the coronavirus pandemic). The draft is set for Nov 18. The start of free agency still is being negotiated, but the Kings must also make a decision on the future of restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic. It’s possible that new general manager Monte McNair assesses his team and finds that he can’t have both Bogdanovic and Hield on the same squad. Then, a decision will have to be made.”

Bogdanovic is a restricted free agent this offseason while Hield enters the first year of his new four year $94 million extension.

McNair singled out Hield at his introductory press conference to the franchise last month, and called him an “elite shooter” whose spacing is important for the team.

Hield was removed from the starting lineup in favor of Bogdanovic in January and continued to see inconsistent minutes for the duration of the season, culminating in season low minutes when the NBA resumed play at the “bubble” in Orlando, Florida.

Hield played sparingly in several of Sacramento’s seeding games, including a season low 11 minutes in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He averaged just 14.3 points per game on 43 percent field goal shooting in Orlando.

Following the Kings’ regular season finale, Hield spoke with reporters on several topics, most noteworthy was his reply when asked whether he would be content to continue his role off the bench next season.

“Y’all know me, y’all know how I talk, y’all know how I feel with a lot of stuff, yall can read me well, so I’ll let y’all answer that for yourselves,” Hield said.