Buddy Hield Signs a 4-Year Extension With the Sacramento Kings

Buddy Hield and the Sacramento Kings have reached an agreement after the initial misunderstanding. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the sharpshooting guard and the Kings have signed a four-year deal worth $94 million. There is a possibility of reaching up to $106 million with all the bonuses included.

Wojnarowski, one of the most prolific NBA insiders, tweeted earlier this Monday, revealing the arrangement between the two sides.

“Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield has agreed to a four-year, $94M contract extension with bonuses that could reach $106M, league sources tell ESPN.”

Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield has agreed to a four-year, $94M contract extension with bonuses that could reach $106M, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2019

This development puts an end on what could have been a saga. Just a few days ago, Hield publicly expressed his disappointment with the initial offer sent by Vlade Divac. It immediately shook the league because Hield was supposed to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season. And following his performances in the previous campaign, many teams became interested in him.

“If it don’t get done … then me and my team will look somewhere else … probably another home. … I love Sacramento, but if they don’t want me here and they don’t feel like I’m part of the core,” Hield stated then.

The 25-year old stated that Kings’ offer looked like an insult to him.

“I see it like an insult. I feel like I’m worth more than that. If you say I’m your guy and you want to build around me, I just need you to show it.”

Contract extension negotiations continued at today's Sacramento Kings Fan Fest, as Buddy Hield sends a stern message to GM Vlade Divac 💰💸😅
(sarcasm obvi – still funny) pic.twitter.com/1KNwXmXIqV

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) October 19, 2019

Two days later, it appeared that the atmosphere among the Kings got warmer. Their general manager Vlade Divac and Hield joked during a Kings Fan Fest last Saturday. The player made a money gesture in Divac’s direction, and the two started laughing, which fired up the atmosphere at the Golden 1 Center. After the session ended, both of them were talking, and already then many suggested that the two are near a new deal.

Hield averaged 20.5 points per game last season, 5 boards, and 2.5 assists. His 43 % from behind the three-point line was among the best in the league. Only he and Steph Curry had more than 250 hits from behind the arc along with 40%. Hield is also the player with the most three-pointers in the first three career seasons, 275.

The Kings reached 39 wins back then and were one of the most pleasant surprises in the entire league. They were in the combinations for the playoffs almost until some 10 games before the end, which was a huge surprise for all the experts and the fans. According to Divac and the rest of the Kings’ management, their primary goal this season is reaching the playoffs. They are currently on a 13-year drought, which is the second-longest in the history of the NBA.

Another data point revealing just how valuable shooting has become: per @wojespn Buddy Hield is signing a 4-year, $94M extension.

Hield is one of the best shooters in the NBA.

Only 2 players hit more than 250 3s last season while making over 40% of their tries: Curry and Hield pic.twitter.com/lU04gekRXk

— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) October 21, 2019

Sacramento has a very talented group of youngsters who has enormous potential. Many are wondering what the ceiling for this crew is. If they are properly guided, some are even suggesting that the Kings could be serious title contenders in several years.

De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and many more are presenting a core which has a lot of room for improvement. Divac’s vision, when decided to trade DeMarcus Cousins, was widely diminished and laughed at, but the former Kings’ All-Star proved to be right in the end.

The next move for Sacramento is to make a deal with Bogdanovic. The Serb is also becoming a restricted agent at the end of the next season, and there are already some indications that other clubs want to use that.