Sure, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram both are younger and probably have more potential. But it’s hard not to like Buddy Hield’s NBA prospects after the show he put on in Saturday’s NCAA Tournament matchup.
The Oklahoma shooting guard was on absolute fire against No. 1 seed Oregon, pouring in a game-high 37 points and drilling eight 3-pointers to help the No. 2 Sooners rout the Ducks 80-68 in their Elite Eight showdown.
Hield was hot from the opening tip, as evidenced by this casual stepback three with a hand right in his face:
The 22-year-old senior looked like a young Stephen Curry, expanding his range to well beyond the arc and calling his shots before they went in:
Hield should be a top-10 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and with the Boston Celtics owning the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round selection, his outburst Saturday had Boston fans dreaming of the Sooners star in Celtic green.
I don't care if the Celtics have 15 guards, I'd still be fired up if they took Buddy at 4 or 5.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 26, 2016
As Boston superfan Bill Simmons points out, the Celtics are pretty well-equipped at the guard position, and Hield is a good three years older than many top draft prospects who ultimately could have a higher ceiling.
But Boston does lack another bona fide scorer outside point guard Isaiah Thomas, and the thought of him getting buckets at TD Garden is a pretty tempting one, especially after the display he put on Saturday.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports Images
