The Sacramento Kings are trying to sign Buddy Hield to a contract extension following his breakout season last year, but they are going to have to try a lot harder if they want the star guard to commit to them for the long term.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported on Wednesday that the Kings have offered Hield a four-year, $90 million deal. While speaking with the media after Sacramento’s exhibition win over Melbourne United, Hield unloaded on the team and hinted that he will demand a trade if they don’t up their offer significantly.
Buddy Hield speaks openly about his ongoing contract negotiations with the Sacramento Kings pic.twitter.com/fBTyuw9qjZ
— Sports 1140 KHTK (@Sports1140KHTK) October 17, 2019
“I feel like I’m worth more than that. If you say I’m your guy and you want to build around me, I need you to show it,” Hield said. “Actions speak louder than words. If you’re just talking and not showing anything, I’m not going to respect it.”
Hield then pointed to the fact that Sacramento is not considered a top destination for NBA free agents, meaning the Kings had better find a way to satisfy him if they want to hold onto a star player. While he is not demanding a max contract extension (which would be either a four-year, $130.7 deal or a five-year, designated-player extension worth around $170 million), Hield told Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee that he’s looking for more than $100 million over four years. Otherwise, he may want out.
“If it don’t get done, me and my team will look for something else — probably another home,” Hield said. “Until then, we’ll see if they really want me here. That’s the goal, to be here. I love Sacramento, but if they don’t want me here, if they don’t feel like I’m part of the core … I want to be here. If they don’t want me here, find somewhere else to be.”
Hield averaged a career-high 20.7 points per game last season, and he may have been one of the reasons the Kings made a coaching change. He’ll be a restricted free agent after the season, which means Sacramento could match any offer he receives on the open market if they extend him a qualifying offer. However, players forcing trades has become all too common in the NBA. Hield could become the next if the Kings don’t give him what he wants.
