The Atlanta Hawks acquired Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis at the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
Kuminga and Porziņģis unsurprisingly received more headlines, as Hield barely saw the court for Atlanta. However, Atlanta has an important decision to make with the 33-year-old this summer.
Hield's contract is only partially guaranteed for next season. President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh must decide if Hield will remain on the roster for next season in the next couple of days.
Buddy Hield's important contract decision looms
Hield has two years left on his four-year, $37.8 million contract that he signed in 2024. However, Atlanta can buy out his contract for $3.0 million this summer, instead of paying him $9.7 million in 2026-27. Saleh must make his decision sooner than Hawks fans might realize - one day after the NBA Draft. If the Hawks let Hield play out his deal, they face a potential financial disaster in 2027-28.
Hield owns a $10.1 million player-option for the 2027-28 campaign. As he turns 35 years old next season, he is highly unlikely to make more than that in the open market. As a result, he might pick up the option to make the most money possible, as his career comes closer to an end. If this happens, the Hawks will find themselves severely overpaying for a veteran mentor who sits outside of the rotation.
Since Saleh's promotion to general manager and president of basketball operations, Atlanta has cleaned up the books and restocked its draft collection, giving the franchise more flexibility. Giving Hield $3.0 million this summer and getting off his contract would certainly fall in line with this pattern.
Hawks still have veteran leadership next season without Hield
On June 21, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Atlanta signed CJ McCollum to a one-year, $21 million contract extension. He played a pivotal role for the Hawks down the stretch of the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs.
If Atlanta selects a rookie with the No. 8 or No. 23 pick in the draft, McCollum would be a great mentor for a promising prospect while playing an important rotation role.
The Hawks selected Kingston Flemings with the No. 8 pick in Tuesday night’s draft. He joins Atlanta’s talented guard room with McCollum, Dyson Daniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Flemings likely plays a rotation role soon into his NBA career, making it even more unlikely that Hield sees the floor.
Saleh must be careful with the books to allow for roster and financial flexibility so the Hawks can raise their ceiling. Keeping Hield hinders their ability to do just that.
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