Buddy Hield: Latest News, Rumors and Buzz on SG's 2016 NBA Draft Stock

Oklahoma product Buddy Hield is looking to secure a top-three spot in the 2016 NBA draft on June 23 and is doing well to boost his stock entering the draft.

Continue for updates.

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Hield Comments on Fit With Lakers

Saturday, June 18

“This is what the franchise needs,” Hield said after working out with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. “The Lakers are losing Kobe and they need a scorer. So why not call on me to fill in their spot?”

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Hield Visits Celtics

Monday, June 13

ESPN's Jeff Goodman reported Hield worked out for the Boston Celtics on Monday, and he shot lights-out from three-point range. Goodman noted that Hield "hit 85 of 100 in front of Celtics brass."

Per Goodman, the former Oklahoma star impressed during the session. Kentucky's Jamal Murray also worked out for Boston, hitting 79 three-pointers out of 100.

Goodman continued to say that Hield is one of the 2016 NBA draft's elite shooting prospects:

Hield drastically improved his shooting from downtown during his collegiate career. He hit 23.8 percent of his threes as a freshman before ascending to a 45.7 mark during his senior year. Hield attempted 322 long-range shots last season, hitting 147.

His jump shot is the Bahamas native's best attribute, and he can beat an opponent from deep on big stages. In last season's Elite Eight matchup with Oregon, Hield went 8-of-13 from three, scoring 37 points to power Oklahoma to the Final Four. Here are the highlights of that performance, courtesy of NCAA.com:

Boston holds the third, 16th and 23rd picks in the first round of June's draft. Whether Hield goes as high as third overall is uncertain, though. DraftExpress.com has Hield going No. 5 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. CBS Sports' Gary Parish has Murray going to the Celtics in the top three, while Minnesota takes Hield at No. 5.

The Celtics could also trade the third pick, as CSN New England's A. Sherrod Blakely reported:

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[I'm] hearing that No. 3 pick overall is the one that they are really shopping, said Blakely. [Boston]'s trying to be as aggressive as possible in trying to move that pick, because they want to get a difference-making, impact player right now. And they believe using that No. 3 pick, and maybe some other players and/or picks, might be the best way to [make] that happen.

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Hield is likely to go in the top 10, so Boston might have to use its third pick to snag him. Third overall seems a tad high for him, but the Celtics could trade back and select him or package their remaining two first-round picks to jump up if Hield falls out of the top six.

Boston was 28th in the league this season in three-point percentage, so it could use a deep threat to space out the floor for slashing guards Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas.

Statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.