The Lakers spent the offseason chasing a very specific kind of help: shooting. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves positioned as the franchise’s long-term anchors, Rob Pelinka’s mission was clear - give them the kind of perimeter support that makes the whole thing work.
That search led Los Angeles close to a move for Buddy Hield, but the deal never got across the finish line. The Lakers were exploring consolidation trades, the sort that would turn two contracts into one and help clean up the roster. Hield emerged as a name that fit that idea, especially after being moved from the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets and then to the Chicago Bulls.
“A possible consolidation trade is something the Lakers have looked at quite a bit this offseason, both reaching out to teams and having teams reach out to them about the possibility of a deal,” wrote Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. “One player that stood out in multiple deals due to the trades he was involved in was sharpshooter Buddy Hield, who was recently moved from the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets and then to the Chicago Bulls.”
On the Lakers’ side, the appeal was obvious. A Hield deal could have helped reduce the roster count while also creating a little more salary flexibility as the team finalized things for the regular season. But there was a catch: Los Angeles would have needed to attach a second-round pick, and that was enough to stop the move.
“Sources say the Lakers could’ve made a ‘2-for-1 move’ to trade for Hield, but the organization ultimately elected against doing so,” Siegel added. “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.”
Hield’s fit was easy to see. His numbers - 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 43.3% shooting from the field - don’t jump off the page, but the value comes in the shot-making. He brings instant spacing and a bench jolt that would have made sense in Los Angeles.
Instead, the Lakers passed on paying the pick price. In a league where second-round selections carry more weight than they used to, that kind of asset management matters. For a team operating in the Luka Doncic era, the front office is clearly treating every move like it has to earn its place.
For now, the Lakers will sort out the rest of the roster without that trade and head toward opening night with a group they’re comfortable with. Doncic, Reaves, and Walker Kessler give them a strong base, while Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, and Jarred Vanderbilt add depth and lineup flexibility.
Hield, meanwhile, is trying to settle in with the Bulls after a stretch of constant movement. Even with all the turnover, he believes he can turn this stop into something more lasting in Chicago.
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