By Dane Carbaugh

Buddy Hield -- pronounced “heeled” because I know you were wondering -- is Oklahoma’s standout senior guard and is primed and ready as a lottery selection for the 2016 NBA Draft.

National fans have quickly become aware of Hield this season as his scoring average has jumped eight points-per-game from last year. He notably scored 46 in a triple-overtime loss to No. 1 Kansas on January 4 and has scored less than 20 points in just five games at the time of writing.

Standing 6-foot-4 and 215 lbs. Hield is a solid shooting guard prospect with a scorer’s mentality, lightning-quick release and a penchant for destroying teams in transition. He’s a work in progress on the defensive end of the floor, but he’s likely to add bench scoring for an NBA team next year, especially if he ends up on a sub-30 win squad where he can get significant playing time.

Let’s get into how Hield fits into the NBA at this stage in his career and scenarios for his development.

Quick-release 3-point shooting

Watching Hield’s release stands out in that it’s not particularly polished, but it’s simple and to the point. It’s also extremely quick.

With the ball low and in front of his face, the Sooner star doesn’t hesitate to launch away from several feet beyond the college 3-point line. That can get him in trouble, as Hield sometimes takes shots that are well-contested and ill-advised. Still, he’s shooting better than 50 percent from deep and until he starts really missing, coach Lon Kruger isn’t going to make him stop anytime soon.

There is a caveat to Hield’s 3-point abilities: he’s much better as a catch-and-shoot deep threat than anything else, including off screens or fresh off the dribble.

Now, that’s not to say that he’s not good at making tricky 3-pointers off the dribble, but the decision-making between a pick-and-roll switch and normal daylight between a wing defender doesn’t seem to be well-developed for him at this point.

Let’s take a look at what I’m talking about:



In the play above, he rotates perfectly into position from the corner to the free-throw line extended as his teammate drives into the lane. His release is quick, his positioning balanced and smart.

So, too, does Hield feel space on this play:



In the same game, he runs across the formation on an out of bounds play and sees his defender continuing to guard the drive to the baseline. He goes ahead and let's fly as the Oklahoma State player is balanced in a neutral position, unable to meet his rising jumper.

But let’s take a look at the very same game, on a made 3-pointer by Hield no less, to see where he goes awry.



In the play above, Hield moves from the corner to the left wing on a dribble handoff play. With 20 seconds left on the shot clock, he pushes off with his left hand and shoots a fading 3-pointer with a defender covering him and a hand at the ball.

Sure, it went in, but against bigger and smarter defenders in the NBA, it would be a miracle if Hield could get these types of shots off with consistent accuracy. We’d be demanding Steph Curry-like accuracy for him which is unreasonable for any prospect.

Craftiness and size are going to be a big question for Hield at the next level and could affect his shot. According to Nylon Calculus, Hield’s measurements are average compared to last year’s draft class at his position.

Without great length or height, and with such a low shot, it will be interesting to see if he can still get his shots off. His quick release looks hopeful and he’s crafty in other ways on the court (which we will talk about in a second) and that’s what NBA GMs will be banking on.

A transition dynamo

One of Hield’s greatest strengths is his willingness to get out on the break. Quick 3-pointers, drives to the bucket and additional opportunities from free throws are all part of his game.

There are multiple facets to Hield’s strengths here that are all worth pointing out individually.

Scoring is one, but rebounding is perhaps just as impressive. He is Oklahoma’s leading rebounder at the guard position but doesn’t get stuck down by the basket. His acceleration out of the 8-foot range is spectacular, whether he has the ball himself or whether he’s filling the lanes.

Put it this way: Buddy Hield often boxes out on defense immediately before finishing a fastbreak opportunity.



In the two plays above, Hield starts the break himself from inside the painted area. As he moves into the lane, take note of how Hield gets to the bucket. In both instances, Hield seeks out space within defenders, first with a step-through move and then with a left-to-right spin that he uses with regularity.

Hield is not the fastest player but understands pace well enough at this point to be a complete hassle.



In the next play, he’s battling down low for the rebound and even gives the opposing forward a little push in the back as the two teams scramble for the ball. Once it’s loose and bouncing toward the arc, Hield turns on the jets and finishes off the assist.

Which leads us to our next segment …

Shifty … uh … ness

This section could be called anything you wanted it to be related to slashing. Simply put, Hield is an awkward, powerful, quick and sometimes uncontrolled attacker with the ball.

He knows when to lower his shoulders, to wiggle around defenders and find the smallest amount of daylight. Much of his efficiency comes from being able to move laterally, often to occupy the only space that’s available.

If we’re making NBA comparisons -- not on the whole, mind you -- he could be likened to a more forceful CJ McCollum. Yes, he’s got the hesitation and blow-by first step, but when he’s matched against multiple opponents he digs deeper into his bag of tricks.



In the play above, he refuses the screen, side steps through two defenders who both get a hand on the ball, then flicks a finger roll toward the basket to draw the foul.

Watch the play a couple times, and look at just how low he stays. He’s constantly staring at the waistlines of defenders and he always remains on top of his knees, which is a testament to his balance.

Some of his moves are more traditional.


In this transition set against Kansas, an electric first step takes him down the baseline, and a textbook lateral jump stop gives him the chance for the floater.

He’s going to need every change of pace move he has thanks to his average size at the next level.

Deficiencies

Hield isn’t a particularly adept defender at this juncture, either in a team sense or as an on-ball defender. He has a tendency to ball watch despite having played at least 25 mpg for the last four years at Oklahoma. That’s a little worrying to me.
He’s also a poor decision-maker when it comes to getting completely stopped. Hield loves to give a shimmy and turn the corner, but when help defenders are quick to react he just keeps right on going with whatever plan he’s got.

The results are some strips by defending guards, passes to nobody, and a concerning amount of jumping in the air with little to no plan.

You can see this even in some of the examples above, where his athleticism and ability to wiggle into foul shots-saves him but is very often his biggest negative. It’s the other side of the same coin, and at this point you aren’t getting the penetrating and 3-point shooting pure scorer without some odd choices mixed in.

That’s what development is for, in both cases. Hield has a reputation for having a good attitude and wanting to get better, so as with any prospect it’s whether time will reveal a smoother product from a raw talent.