Getty Buddy Hield during an April 14 game against the Brooklyn Nets.
After parting ways with Klay Thompson in free agency, the Golden State Warriors are wheeling and dealing. They’ve finalized a sign-and-trade to acquire Buddy Hield from the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Golden State Warriors have agreed to a deal acquiring Buddy Hield via sign-and-trade from the 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. New teammates Hield and Stephen Curry are leaders for most 3-pointers made over the last 5 NBA seasons – and now will be teammates.
“New teammates Hield and Stephen Curry are leaders for most 3-pointers made over the last 5 NBA seasons – and now will be teammates,” Charania tweeted on July 4.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski followed up with details on Hield’s new contract, writing that the deal is “guaranteed for two years and $21 million.”
ESPN Sources: Free agent Buddy Hield is joining Golden State on a sign-and-trade deal guaranteed for two years and $21 million. Hield gets $18M in first two years, a $3M partial guarantee in 3rd year and player option on non-guaranteed 4th year. Warriors send Sixers 2031 second…
“Hield gets $18M in first two years, a $3M partial guarantee in 3rd year and player option on non-guaranteed 4th year,” Wojnarowski tweeted. “Warriors send Sixers 2031 second via Dallas.”
Hield is coming off of his eighth NBA campaign. He started 2023-24 year with the Indiana Pacers before being dealt to the 76ers at the trade deadline.
Hield averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game between 84 regular-season appearances last season. He is a career 40% 3-point shooter. By playing for two teams, Hield had the unusual distinction of logging appearances (84) that exceeded the number of games in an NBA regular season (82). He played 52 games for the Pacers and 32 for the Sixers.
Buddy Hield Deal Will Be 5-Teamer
Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported on July 4 that the sign-and-trade for Hield would be part of a five-team deal.
“The Buddy Hield deal will be roped into a five-team trade, per sources, stemming from the Klay Thompson move to Dallas, which now makes Kyle Anderson and Hield the combined return to GSW for Klay,” Slater tweeted.
Anderson arrived to Golden State by way of a sign-and-trade of his own. He signed a three-year, $27 million deal en route from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That means that he, Hield and others will be grouped together in one deal among five teams. That includes the Dallas Mavericks, who acquired Thompson on a three-year, $50 million deal in a sign-and-trade, too.
The fifth team is the Charlotte Hornets, who acquired Josh Green as apart of the Thompson deal.
Hield Slated to Be Thompson Replacement
Charania added that Hield chose the Warriors “over other offers to have an opportunity to win, per league sources,” Charania wrote on July 4.
One would have to think that Hield believes he has a chance to win the starting two-guard spot.
When the Warriors benched Thompson last season, it was for rookie guard Brandin Podziemski. The first-round pick shined, averaging 9.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4 assists.
Head coach Steve Kerr will likely allow Hield and Podziemski to compete for the spot in training camp. But it’s the latter who offers the premier 3-point shooting they had in Thompson.
Hield has started 412 of his 632 career games.
Or perhaps the veteran guard is insurance for when Curry is off the floor. Having one or the other on the floor at all times leaves Golden State with elite 3-point shot making at all times.
The Warriors have replaced Chris Paul and Thompson with Anderson, Hield and De’Anthony Melton. Their actual chances of contending aside, it’s a nice return for two veterans on the “back nines” of their careers.