Five reasons Buddy Hield is perfect for the New Orleans Pelicans

5. He’s going to get better

As a 22-year old, four-year college player, Buddy Hield would theoretically be slotted into the group of players considered to have “limited upside.” Data does show that players his age, drafted in that range, tend to be more productive more quickly but with a lower level of peak performance — supporting the idea of age and experience being a trade-off between players who are “nba-ready” and those with more potential. However, Hield is not your average four-year prospect.

Hield began his college career as a bit player whose game was mostly about energy and activity. As a freshman, he averaged just 7.7 field goal attempts per game and made just 23.8 percent of his three-pointers. As a senior, he averaged 16.3 field goal attempts per game and shot 45.7 percent on three-pointers.

Hield grew into this role as a primary offensive threat and developed his three-point shot to the point where it was a weapon that tear apart a defense that was focused almost exclusively on stopping him. Growth is a process, one that Hield has been following for four years now. Given how far he’s come and what he’s done to get to this point, it seems a little short-sighted to think of him as a finished product now.

Next: 4. Spacing, spacing, spacing