Kings Rumors: Buddy Hield 'Might' Request Trade If He Remains Unhappy with Role

Buddy Hield's four-year contract extension hasn't kicked in yet, but the veteran guard could look to leave the Sacramento Kings via trade soon. 

Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Jason Jones, Hield has grown frustrated with his role in Sacramento and could request a trade if things don't change:

"If Hield remains displeased with his role, a source with knowledge of his thinking said he might request a trade. He believes he is a starter in the NBA and there's no guarantee he'll get that job back, given how the team has played lately. And unlike last season, when he never criticized [Dave] Joerger publicly and even refrained from doing so after their well-chronicled January 2019 run-in at Golden State, Hield has shown a willingness to criticize [Luke] Walton that has proved at times problematic."

Hield and head coach Luke Walton have had issues this season, most notably in December after a 105-104 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in which Hield played just five minutes between the fourth quarter and overtime. 

"I don't know," Hield told reporters after that game. "Seems like we're all over the place — coaches and everybody. Trust issues going on, I guess. Guys stop believing in players. It is what it is. They have who they have playing out there and I just have to be supportive."

Hield did apologize to the team afterward for those comments. The 27-year-old has been used off the bench in each of Sacramento's past nine games, though he's logged over 30 minutes in three straight games. 

The Kings gave Hield a four-year extension worth up to $106 million in October. That deal kicks in starting next season and runs through 2023-24. 

Hield leads the team with 20.4 points per game, but his 38.7 three-point percentage is the second-worst rate of his career (36.9 percent in 2016-17).