Heading into his third year in the league, Buddy Hield looks to build upon a strong season coming (mostly) off the bench for the Sacramento Kings. It is easy to say we will see marginal improvement in Buddy’s game, but what about some bold, albeit realistic, predictions?
Buddy Hield will average over 20 points per game
This probably qualifies on the edge of bold, but it is here anyway. Hield is coming off a season where he averaged 13.5 points in 25.3 minutes a night. Scoring over 13 points is solid, but not great for somebody Kings’ owner Vivek Ranadive has such a high view of.
For what it is worth, Buddy’s role with Sacramento last season was far from consistent. He only started 12 games last year, but much of that was due to inconsistency with the starting unit. His scoring though was solid for most of the year. Hield had a combined 60 games over ten points (thirteen over 20) but had 20 games under ten total points.
If he is able to develop some consistency and garner a bit more playing time, it should not be difficult for him to hit the 20 per-game mark and lead the Kings in scoring.
Buddy will become a regular starter again
This, like the first, should not come across as too bold. But after seeing how last season played out, it should not be left out. Buddy must become the Kings’ starting two-guard again if they want to win games.
The Kings are better by almost every statistical measure when Buddy is on the court. If you can name it, the Kings are better with him on. Assist percentage? Better. Field-goal percentage? Better. Overall offensive rating? A staggering 7.4 points better with Hield on the floor.
This is not to say Buddy is a cure for all of the Kings’ issues, but it is a start. Hield is arguably the Kings’ best player and keeping him on the bench just does not feel right. Give Hield 30 minutes per game with the starting unit and he will go for 20 points a game easy.
Last season, the lineup combination of Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Aaron Fox, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Zach Randolph had a three-point percentage of 42.3% in eleven games. A small sample size undoubtedly, but the Kings as a team only shot 37.5% from the perimeter last season. It is just one example, but Hield’s development could be the X-Factor Sacramento needs to jumpstart this rebuild.
Last but not least, Buddy Hield will join the 50/40/90 club
Are things bold enough now? Hield will shoot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free-throw line. This would be no small feat for the Kings guard, and would surely make the team’s front office ecstatic.
That threshold has been met only seven times in NBA history. Almost all of whom are guaranteed Hall of Famers, with the lone exception being Jose Calderon in 2007. Other members of the club include Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash (x4), Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. Hield joining that list would be quite a coup, but it is not totally out of the realm of possibility.
As his shot develops and becomes more reliable, his percentages should climb steadily. Add that to the fact that he does not have *too* much ground to make up, he at least has a chance. Last year, Hield met the three-point mark, drilling 43% of his threes to go with 44.6% of his field goals and 87% of his free throws. Asking him to make up three percentage points on his free throws is absolutely doable. Making up 5.4% on his field goals? That is where it gets tough, but then again, bold goals are not supposed to be easy, are they?