Training camp is officially here for the Los Angeles Lakers, and with 16 players already on the roster, things are tight. That roster crunch got even more interesting with the recent report that the Lakers actually *could have* pulled off a “2-for-1” trade for sharpshooter Buddy Hield, but ultimately opted out.
The Trade They Walked Away From
Look, the Lakers have been on the hunt for a consolidation trade this offseason, hitting up teams and getting hit up themselves. It’s no secret they’re trying to improve, even without a ton of blockbuster assets. And apparently, one name that kept popping up in trade talks was Buddy Hield, who’s been on a tour lately, moving from the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets and then landing with the Chicago Bulls.
Sources indicated that the Lakers had a shot at a “2-for-1 move” for Hield. But they said no thanks. While the exact reason wasn’t spelled out, the word is they probably weren’t keen on throwing in a second-round pick just to offload two contracts. That tells you a lot about how they’re valuing those picks right now, especially when they’re already sitting at 16 players and still need to figure out who makes the final cut.
Buddy Hield: Not the Shooter He Once Was
Let’s be real, Buddy Hield is a tough player to size up these days. He’s shown flashes of potential over the last few seasons, but honestly, he’s shaping up to be more of a ninth or tenth man on a squad. And the numbers back it up: with the Golden State Warriors in 2025-26, where he played most of his 44 games, he shot just 34.4% from beyond the arc. Oof.
He just isn’t the lights-out shooter he used to be. Sure, maybe he could have fit into the Lakers’ scheme if JJ Redick somehow managed to hide him defensively, but that 3-point percentage? That’s a huge question mark for a player whose main job is supposed to be knocking down shots. This decision by Rob Pelinka to not pull the trigger on Hield, despite the Lakers’ obvious need for floor spacing, says a lot about what they thought of his current game versus the cost.
The Lakers still have to figure out their final roster spots as camp rolls on. This Hield saga just underlines how careful they’re being with their assets and whether they truly believe a player is worth that extra second-round pick.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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