Buddy

Hield

Between Golden State and Atlanta, Hield wasn’t a fantasy basketball factor last season. Could that change in Chicago? He’s played consistent rotation minutes off the bench this preseason, and the veteran guard shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. While Hield had a good showing, there’s no need to consider him in drafts. If he is consistently productive during the season, you can pick him up off the waiver wire.

The Bulls also acquired cash as part of the deal. Chicago gets a veteran shooter in Hield, who was traded by the Hawks earlier this week. He averaged 7.6 points in 51 games last season. Hield can still shoot, but doesn’t offer much more to fantasy managers at this point in his career.

Hield, who began the 2025-26 season with the Warriors before being sent to Atlanta in the Jonathan Kuminga trade, appeared in just seven games for the Hawks. With Atlanta adding Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins via trade and Kingston Flemings via the draft, Hield’s chances of earning rotation minutes were unlikely to improve, even though the Hawks guaranteed his salary for next season. Unfortunately for Hield, Charlotte has a similar logjam on the wings, lowering his chances of becoming fantasy-relevant in 2026-27.

The deal had been rumored in recent days, and now it’s happening. Charlotte acquired DFS and three second-round picks in a cost-cutting move for the Rockets in July and have now swung him to Atlanta. The three-and-D forward should fill out some depth minutes for the Hawks behind Jalen Johnson, but it is unlikely he plays significant minutes, barring an injury.

With Hield’s $9.66 million salary reportedly going to be guaranteed, the Hawks will retain a proven veteran who has consistently been one of the league’s best three-point shooters. His salary could also be used as filler in a potential trade, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. Regardless, Hield didn’t have much value in fantasy leagues last season aside from scenarios in which managers need streaming options for three-point production. He barely played at all for the Hawks after the trade.

Hield has only made a few appearances since the Hawks acquired him, mostly during blowouts. However, with the Hawks resting their rotation players, Hield was able to supply plenty of offense off the bench in just 21 minutes. He isn’t going to be part of their rotation during the playoffs, but he is still a capable floor spacer. Unless the Hawks move him this offseason, he’ll likely remain in a limited role again next year.

Kuminga and Vincent join the long list of Hawks who won’t be available for Sunday’s regular-season finale. Given the absences, this should be a spot where Buddy Hield figures prominently in the rotation, possibly as a starter.

Alexander-Walker has a sprained left foot, but the good news is that the door is open for him to play against the Wizards. If he can’t go, there will be more opportunities available to Gabe Vincent and Keaton Wallace, while Buddy Hield could move into the back end of the rotation.

The Hawks will be without two starters for Monday’s game, with Daniels and All-Star Jalen Johnson sitting due to injury. In the case of the former, his absences free up additional minutes for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum. The former has started five games since being traded to the Hawks, while the latter has only started one. This may also be a spot where Buddy Hield or Gabe Vincent makes their Hawks debut after both received DNP-CDs in Saturday’s loss to the Hornets.

Available to make his Hawks debut, Hield did not play as Quin Snyder stuck to a nine-man rotation. While things could always change after the All-Star break, since the team will be able to get in some practice time, Hield wasn’t a good fantasy option with the Warriors before the trade. There’s no need to roster him in fantasy leagues.