The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

Chavano “Buddy” Hield is trading one Southern city for another, moving from the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets as the Bahamian sharpshooter begins another chapter in his NBA career.

Hield, 33, was traded by the Hawks to the Hornets on Tuesday along with Ryan Nembhard and cash considerations in exchange for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

The deal comes just days before the start of another NBA season and will give Hield a new opportunity heading into his 11th season in the league.

Hield was selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2016 NBA Draft before being traded to the Sacramento Kings during his rookie season. He has since played for the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Hawks, with the Charlotte move making the Hornets his ninth NBA organization.

The Freeport native spent only seven games with Atlanta after joining the Hawks in February as part of the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors. Hield averaged 5.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 7.3 minutes per game with Atlanta.

His limited role in Atlanta came after he had averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 44 games with Golden State earlier in the 2025-26 season. Across the two teams, he averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range.

Hield’s career numbers remain considerably stronger than his most recent season. Through 765 regular-season games, he has averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three-point range. He has made 2,9 three pointers per game during his career.

His ability to stretch the floor could be the biggest part of his potential role in Charlotte.

The Hornets already have several perimeter players, including Coby White, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, meaning Hield could be used primarily as a veteran shooting option who creates space for Charlotte’s ball handlers and scorers rather than being asked to carry a large offensive load.

A recent analysis from Charlotte Hornets On SI described the potential addition as giving Charlotte a proven veteran shooter and noted that Hield could change the makeup of the team’s perimeter group.

The trade also follows weeks of reported discussions between the two teams.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported Sunday that Atlanta and Charlotte had been involved in “on-and-off trade discussions” surrounding Hield and Finney Smith. Fischer also reported that Atlanta had been exploring trades involving Hield’s $9.7 million salary throughout the summer.

That reporting came as Atlanta dealt with a crowded roster. ESPN reported that the Hawks began Tuesday with 16 players on standard contracts, one above the regular season limit, making a move necessary as the team worked toward roster compliance.

Hield’s shooting remains his defining NBA skill.

He won the 2020 NBA Three Point Contest and has been one of the league’s more prolific perimeter shooters throughout his career. His 39.5 percent career mark from three-point range has remained a major part of his value even as his role and minutes have declined in recent seasons.

His most recent FIBA performances with The Bahamas also showed that he remains capable of taking on a larger offensive role when given the opportunity.

During the Bahamas’ current FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifying campaign, Hield is averaging 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists through four games, according to FIBA.

He opened the second round with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Uruguay on August 27, knocking down six three-pointers. He followed that with 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 100 82 victory over Panama on September 1. Hield shot 5 of 13 from three-point range against Panama.

The performances came during a busy offseason for the veteran Bahamian, who has continued to represent the country alongside NBA teammates and young national team players including VJ Edgecombe.

Hield’s national team career has also produced strong numbers over the years. FIBA lists him at a career international average of 19.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in senior competitions.

Now, his attention turns back to the NBA and another new uniform.

Charlotte’s decision to acquire Hield gives the veteran shooter another chance to establish himself in a rotation after seeing his minutes fall sharply with Golden State and Atlanta last season.

The Hornets will now have to determine how Hield fits alongside their existing perimeter options, but his career production and shooting provide a clear offensive skill that can be incorporated without requiring him to dominate the ball.