The Atlanta Hawks just made it official: Buddy Hield is getting his full bag for next season. According to league insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the team will fully guarantee the veteran guard’s $9.66 million salary for the 2026-27 campaign.
It’s not exactly a surprise move, but it’s a notable one given how little Hield has actually played since arriving in Atlanta.
A Weird Season for a Career Shooter
Hield finished his 10th NBA season with the Hawks after starting the year with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors shipped him to Atlanta at the midseason trade deadline, and things have been quiet since. He appeared in just seven games for the Hawks. His averages: 5.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. Not exactly the Buddy Hield people remember bombing from deep for Sacramento or Indiana.
Injuries limited his minutes. And when he was on the floor? Inconsistent. The Hawks didn’t exactly rush to work him into the rotation. Still, the contract language gave Atlanta an out. They could have declined to guarantee the full amount. They didn’t.
That decision signals something. Maybe they see him as a flier for next season. Maybe they think a full offseason with the team gets him right. Or maybe the partial guarantee structure made it easier to just pay him and move on rather than negotiate a buyout or stretch provision.
Hield’s Still a Threat From Deep
The thing that keeps Hield in the league: he can still shoot. He’s a career 39.5 percent three-point shooter. That number doesn’t lie. Even in limited action this year, you could see the floor spacing. Defenders still respect him. That’s valuable in a league where spacing opens everything else up.
The Hawks haven’t announced any trade talks involving Hield. But the full guarantee makes him an easier asset to move if Atlanta decides to reshape the roster this summer. A $9.66 million expiring contract attached to a catch-and-shoot wing? That has trade value, especially for teams looking to shed longer-term money or add shooting without committing past one season.
What’s Next
Atlanta has bigger decisions looming. The core is still being sorted out. Trae Young’s future, Dejounte Murray’s role, the young wings developing — there’s a lot on the table. Hield’s guarantee is a small piece but a necessary one to get settled before free agency opens. No drama. No drawn-out negotiation. The Hawks made the call. Hield gets paid. Now both sides move forward.
For a guy who started the season in Golden State, got traded, dealt with injuries, and still banked nearly ten million bucks — it’s not a bad outcome.
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