Hield isn’t Happy
Buddy Hield has made it known that he wants to be in the Kings’ future plans — if the money is right, that is.
Apparently, the money was not what he had hoped it’d be, and he’s not as happy about it as the folks who shared the news that the fanduel sportsbook app has launched for Indiana
Hield is currently under contract through the 2020-21 season, and the team has already been working on an extension, to build around him and other young stars such as De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III.
The Kings reportedly offered him $90 million for an additional four years, and that’s not enough for Hield, who recently addressed the topic in speaking to reporters.
“I just know where my value is at, and I’m not going to budge for nobody,” Hield said, via NBC Sports California. “I work hard. I come in here every day and I do my job.”
“It’s not frustrated, I’m just speaking to my heart,” Hield continued. “I feel like people get mixed up with being frustrated. I’m just speaking what I believe and what I think. Like I said, there are 30 teams out there. If they don’t want to give me what I think I deserve, some team will give it to me. They’ll have the ability to match, or they’ll have the ability to let me go.”
“The goal is to be here,” Hield added, making it clear that he wants to remain with the organization.
Hield clearly has a set number in his head, but his production indicates he’s simply not worth $25+ million per year, and the Kings appear to agree.
A Little More Hield is Good for the Heart
Contract negotiations between the Kings and Buddy Hield have reached a boiling point ahead of next Monday’s deadline to get an extension done.
The 26-year-old shooting guard called the team’s most recent contract offer of four years and $90 million an insult. He also said that if the two sides aren’t able to strike a deal by Monday, he’s ready to find another team to play for.
Buddy Hield says he sees the Kings’ four-year, $90M offer "like an insult” and is ready to find another home if they can’t get a deal done by Monday 🍿
"I feel like I’m worth more than that. If you say I’m your guy…I just need you to show it."
(via @JandersonSacBee) pic.twitter.com/mfbVvObEQ4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 17, 2019
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports, Hield and his agent are seeking a contract closer to $110 million.
If a deal doesn’t get done by the deadline, Hield would become a restricted free agent this summer. Technically, the Kings could still sign Hield then, but they would be competing with offers from other teams as well.
After a career year in Sacramento last season, Hield is certainly deserving of a new contract, but the Kings appear to be wrapped up in working out a way to keep the core of their team together. They have also offered Bogdan Bogdanovic a new deal, and they’ll soon be preparing for the extensions of De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley.
Beal is in Business
Wizards fans are breathing a sigh of relief after the team signed Bradley Beal to a contract extension on Thursday.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the deal for two years on a $72 million maximum contract that includes a player option for 2022-23.
The All-Star guard was the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but the extension effectively shuts those down, at least until next offseason.
PSA for the thirsty Heat, Pelicans, Lakers & Thunder fans out there:
The Wizards cannot trade Bradley Beal until six months after the extension is signed. Six months from now is after the trade deadline. Even if the Wizards wanted to trade him (they don’t), they'd have to wait.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) October 17, 2019
With John Wall expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from an Achilles injury, extending Beal is a big win for the Wizards. Losing him would have likely triggered a rebuild in Washington. Instead, Beal should be able to keep the Wizards competitive in the East. As this stat shows, he’s a pretty good player in his own right without Wall.
Wizards and Bradley Beal have agreed to a 2-year max extension.
Beal was 1 of 6 players in the NBA to average 25 PPG, 5 APG and 5 RPG last season.
The other 5 have all won MVP awards (LeBron, Steph, Harden, Durant, Giannis). pic.twitter.com/boT9MyzTx3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 17, 2019
With Beal essentially off the market of players who might have been traded this season, teams interested in adding more firepower to their roster will have to look elsewhere.