3 Ways That The Buddy Hield Situation Hurts The Kings

Team Chemistry

For the first half of last season, it was the Kings team chemistry that drove them to their surprising early success. As referenced by Jason Anderson in his recent interview on the Kings Pulse Podcast, the team was young and free of any expectations. The cohesiveness seemed to wain towards the end of the season along with their playoff hopes.

Anderson further explained that that same chemistry that was there to begin last season is not as strong, possibly due in part to everyone being a year older and the professionalism aspect kicking in for some players.

The Buddy Hield saga has certainly not helped the situation.

While most of the players on the Kings roster are young and like-minded, it is likely that not everyone on the team is happy with the way Hield has handled the negotiations. His declarations of his frustrations have been played out in front of the media and public, and his message hasn’t always been in the “team first” attitude that carried the Kings last season.

“Name one big free agent who came to Sacramento,” is part of what Hield told reporters last week, which is one of the statements that might ruffle some feathers. While Dewayne Dedmon, Cory Joseph, and Trevor Ariza know that they are not marquee free agents, there is a possibility that they took exception to Hield’s comments.

Veteran leadership for young teams like the Kings is crucial, and the playoffs would likely be out of reach without it.