After being acquired by the Atlanta Hawks midseason in the 2025-26 campaign, Buddy Hield may soon be on the move again. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that the Hawks have engaged in intermittent trade talks with the Charlotte Hornets regarding Hield, who is a veteran sharpshooter. Fischer also noted that these discussions have included Dorian Finney-Smith, recently traded to Charlotte.
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Earlier this offseason, Atlanta proposed a deal involving Devin Carter, who was waived and subsequently signed with the Boston Celtics. Hield comes off a disappointing season, averaging just 7.6 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range, marking the lowest statistics of his career. Despite this decline, he remains a reliable option for three-point shooting off the bench, which could benefit the Hornets by providing a scoring spark.
Should Hield be traded, the Hawks would also alleviate his $9.65 million salary and his $10.09 million player option for the 2027-28 season. Although trading him could provide financial relief, the Hawks are under the first apron by $11.5 million, which may lessen their urgency to finalize a deal.
Finney-Smith, who was traded in July along with three future second-round picks in exchange for cash considerations, is recovering from a season where he played only 37 games and averaged 3.3 points for the Houston Rockets. Despite a lackluster performance last season, he presents another defensive option for the Hawks as they aim to compete in the playoffs.