Could the 2025-2026 NBA season finally be the year the Los Angeles Lakers land Buddy Hield?

A mock draft from ESPN suggests there could be a scenario where the Lakers land the sharpshooter from the Golden State Warriors, who could be looking to make a major in-season change once again.

In a hypothetical four-team deal, the Lakers would cut ties with Dalton Knecht (again) and Maxi Kleber, while sending cash to the Charlotte Hornets. In return, they would pick up Hield from the Warriors.

As for the rest of the deal, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and a Warriors pick end up in Dallas, while the Warriors would gain Anthony Davis and Mason Plumlee.

“In this case, [Hield] goes to the rival Lakers to supply the shooting threat they need,” ESPN’s Kevin Pelton wrote.

“Meanwhile, Charlotte steps in to take on Kleber’s $11 million expiring contract in order to get Knecht after unsuccessfully attempting to acquire him in a rescinded deadline deal for Mark Williams.”

Kleber, a product of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis deal, has averaged just 12.1 minutes in 10 games for the Lakers this season. His absences were mostly a result of DNPs.

As for Knecht, he never found his stride with the Lakers, especially after last year’s failed trade, which generated an awkward relationship for the remainder of the year.

In Hield, the Lakers would gain a player who is reliable in the availability department and is recognized as one of the top three-point shooters in the game. Throughout his decade-long career, Hield has hit on roughly 40 percent of his threes, while attempting 7.4 per game.

The Warriors were hesitant to include Hield in any Kuminga talks over the summer, but that could change after seeing the veteran struggle through his first 27 games this year.

Seeing the court for 18.8 minutes per game, Hield has averaged 8.0 points while shooting 31 percent from three. At this pace, he could end up shooting his career low. A change of scenery doesn’t guarantee shots will begin to fall, but the Lakers could certainly be interested in giving Hield a fresh start after pursuing him in the past.

So far this season, the Warriors are 13-14, placing them eighth in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 18-7, trailing only the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. If the front office is prioritizing long-range shooting at a high volume, Hield is likely to be on the Lakers’ radar this year.

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