The Los Angeles Lakers have had somewhat of a fixation with former Golden State Warriors players this offseason, having signed Kevon Looney to a minimum contract and undertaking a failed pursuit of young forward Jonathan Kuminga.
After missing out on Kuminga who signed a two-year, $12.4 million with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers also reportedly showed interest in veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield before he was traded twice in the past week.
Lakers fixation on former Warriors continued with Buddy Hield interest
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints on Wednesday, the Lakers could have made a consolidation move to acquire Hield, only to opt against it because they would have needed to include draft capital.
"Sources say the Lakers could've made a “2-for-1 move” to trade for Hield, but the organization ultimately elected against doing so. Although the exact reasoning for this was not provided, one can assume the main reason for this is due to Los Angeles likely needing to include a second-round pick to move two contracts," Siegel wrote.
Hield was instead traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets, before they quickly moved on from the 33-year-old in a deal with the Chicago Bulls who sent out the now waived former eighth overall pick Rob Dillingham.
Based on his dwindling form with the Warriors early last season, and his place out the Hawks rotation following February's trade, the Lakers may have fallen into the right decision not to acquire Hield leading into this season.
Lakers had no need for Buddy Hield on current roster
The Lakers are led in the backcourt by the star duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, while they added to their guard/wing depth in free agency with the likes of Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams.
Throw in exciting first-round pick Cameron Carr and it's hard to see how Hield would have generated minutes in JJ Redick's rotation. He would have simply replaced Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht as depth pieces, albeit at a more expensive salary.
It leaves Looney as the only former Warrior actually on the Lakers roster, with Rob Pelinka and the front office taking a gamble on the three-time champion in the hope he can return to being the serviceable option he once was with Golden State. Having chosen against acquiring another center this offseason, Looney is set for a major role in the Lakers rotation behind their prized offseason addition in Walker Kessler.
The Warriors and Lakers will tip-off their seasons against one another at Crypto.com Arena on October 21.
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