Buddy Hield and the Sacramento Kings have finally agreed upon a contract extension. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the extension is worth $94 million over four years. Bonuses in the contract could up that figure to as much as $106 million, according to reports.
Buddy Hield Inks Extension with Sacramento Kings
Why Buddy Hield Signed a Contract Extension
Despite initially being unhappy with the offer, Hield and the Kings were able to reach an agreement on Monday. Hield will earn at least $94 million over four years and could earn as much as $106 million. It was reported that Hield was seeking a contract in the $110 million range and was “insulted” by the initial offer of $90 million.
In the end, both sides were able to find common ground, and Hield will remain with the Kings for the foreseeable future. Hield possibly came down from his initial number for several reasons. First, with the league going through tensions with China, the salary cap could take a big hit next summer. This alone may make players feel uneasy about future negotiations.
Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield has agreed to a four-year, $94M contract extension with bonuses that could reach $106M, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2019
Second, he may have learned from two former Kings players about getting paid while he still can. Both DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas were due for potential max contracts before the injury bug hit. Now, neither player can find a deal very high above the veteran minimum.
Third, he likely overvalued himself in the first place as a bargaining chip. Hield is obviously a very good player — perhaps the best on his current team — but he may not be worth $110 million. Ultimately, his high price yielded an additional $4 million that could turn into as much as $16 million over four years.
Sacramento Kings on the Rise
Hield is coming off a career year with the Kings. A season ago, he averaged 20.7 points on nearly 46 percent shooting from the field, adding an impressive 43 percent mark from deep. The Sacramento Kings are a young team on the rise, and keeping Hield could prove crucial to their playoff push in the coming years. Overall, the deal makes perfect sense for both parties and could be just what the Kings need to get back to relevancy.
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