Buddy

Hield

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.

Days after trading Vit Krejčí to the Trail Blazers, the Hawks have added a shooter to their ranks in Hield. The consistent minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball were challenging to come by in the Bay Area when the Warriors were whole, so the change of scenery may do Hield some good. In 44 appearances, he averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 three-pointers in 17.5 minutes per game.

Melton will be back after sitting out the second leg of the Warriors’ back-to-back on Sunday. He’ll return to playing his typical role off the bench, which should take away minutes from Pat Spencer and Buddy Hield.

Curry played 28 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Timberwolves, scoring 26 points. His absence for Monday’s rematch means the Warriors will rely heavily on Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and Buddy Hield, with the latter possibly moving into the starting lineup. All three should be rostered for Monday’s action.

The NBA’s decision to push Saturday’s game back a day has created a back-to-back, so a few of the Warriors’ veterans are back on the injury report. Curry did play both games of the Warriors’ most recent back-to-back (January 19-20), so he isn’t a lock to miss one of the two matchups with the Timberwolves. If he sits, the Warriors will have to rely even more on Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield.