5:04 pm: Harrell is opting into his $9.7 player option for the 2021-22 season and with that, the Lakers are moving closer to completing the Hield trade, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports.
The trade cannot be completed until August 6 because of the poison pill restrictions in Kuzma’s deal, as former Nets executive Bobby Marks explains (Twitter link).
3:20 pm: The Lakers’ talks with the Kings around a potential Hield-Kumza-centered deal are very serious, sources tell longtime NBA journalist Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Stein notes that the Spurs are rumored to also have interest in Kuzma and would be open to acquiring him in a potential sign-and-trade that send DeMar DeRozan to Los Angeles.
July 29, 1:00 am: The Lakers continue to have interest in Buddy Hield and Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer hears that Los Angeles has upped its offer ahead of the draft. Rob Pelinka’s club is willing to send the No. 22 overall pick to Sacramento as part of the package.
It was previously reported that the Lakers were considering a deal that gave away Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell and the latest framework would see either Kuzma or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Harrell, and that No. 22 selection head to the Kings in exchange for Hield. That’s a decent haul for someone who’s clashed with the team and previously expressed a desire to be traded. Although, it’s not an unbeatable offer.
The Sixers have been linked to Hield for quite some time, seemingly always having a need for another three-point shooter. However, if Philadelphia is going to beat Los Angeles’ offer, it’ll be hard to do so with it being as part of a Ben Simmons deal given the club’s roster construction.
Another team could come forward and pry the 28-year-old out of Sacramento and while it’s simply my speculation, New Orleans would be a good fit. The Pelicans know Hield well, drafting him with the No. 6 overall pick back in 2016 before sending him to Northern California in the DeMarcus Cousins trade. The franchise is on the lookout for another veteran and Hield would be an excellent fit. Not to mention that New Orleans could offer a package that included the No. 17 overall pick in addition to several young players.
Los Angeles still appears to be the likeliest destination. Yet, given the reported price tag, we could see a team jump at the opportunity to land a sharpshooter in a market that’s void of them.
