Tag: Buddy Hield

‘Wild’ trade idea sends Khris Middleton the Warriors

The ‘wild’ trade proposal would send Khris Middleton to the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors have been re-tooling their roster this summer. With Klay Thompson leaving for the Dallas Mavericks, the front office has added Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson to help round out the rotation and provide depth at multiple positions. However, the Warriors did miss out on Lauri Markkanen, who was rumored to be their top trade target.

As such, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has posited a ‘wild’ trade idea to give the Warriors some additional shooting in the front court, which would inevitably provide some additional floor spacing for Steph Curry in the upcoming season. The trade looks like this:

Warriors get: Khris Middleton

Milwaukee Bucks get: Jerami Grant

Portland Trail Blazers get: Moses Moody and Andrew Wiggins

“The Warriors are essentially swapping Andrew Wiggins for Middleton here, as Moody may not even play much this upcoming season with the additions of Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton combined with Brandin Podziemski entering the starting lineup full-time,” Swartz reasoned. “Middleton’s shooting, passing and overall versatility make him a strong fit in Golden State, and the Warriors should be thrilled to get off Wiggins’ contract.”

On paper, adding Middleton makes a lot of sense for Golden State. He would plug multiple gaps, provide high-level scoring and playmaking along with being an above-average defender. However, Middleton has struggled with health in recent seasons, has shown signs of age-related decline and is coming off a summer where he’s been recovering from surgery.

As such, the Warriors would be wise to swerve this hypothetical trade and look elsewhere. Nevertheless, Swartz is right about one thing: any major trade Golden State makes will likely include Wiggins.

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Buddy Hield isn’t feeling pressure to replace Klay Thompson

Buddy Hield isn’t feeling any pressure to replace Klay Thompson on the Golden State Warriors roster.

The Golden State Warriors acquired Buddy Hield to help fill the perimeter shooting void left behind by Klay Thompson. Hield is one of the best volume-shooting three-point specialists in the NBA. He can hit shots off movement or when spotting up. Last season, Hield shot 38.6% from the perimeter on 6.8 attempts per game.

Despite being added to Golden State’s roster to help plug a Thompson-sized gap, Hield isn’t feeling any pressure to replace the four-time NBA champion. Instead, he will likely want to play his own game, find where he fits within Steve Kerr’s system and provide the floor spacing Steph Curry needs to consistently attack high-quality shots.

“There’s no pressure,” Hield said. “…Just come and do my job. What Klay has done for this organization has been tremendous. I love Klay a lot. I’ve watched him a ton over the years and he’s special…So, I don’t look at it as pressure, but I think it’s fun just being in that role and seeing if I can get the same looks he got.”

Golden State failed to make the playoffs last season. The front office has moved to revamp the rotation during the opening weeks of the offseason. Hield’s perimeter scoring ability should give Kerr’s team an additional weapon in the half-court while also providing the franchise with some fresh opportunities to incorporate some new plays.

The Warriors are reportedly still in the market for upgrades, too. Lauri Markkanen’s name has consistently been floated as a potential target. It will be interesting to see how Golden State’s rotation looks by the start of the new season.

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Buddy Hield wants to be ‘a sponge’ when playing with Steph Curry

Buddy Hield wants to learn as much as possible from Steph Curry after joining the Golden State Warriors

Buddy Hield is the man tasked with replacing the perimeter shooting the Golden State Warriors lost when Klay Thompson left for the Dallas Mavericks. Hield is one of the best volume three-point shooters in the NBA, and is averaging 40% from the 3-point line for his career.

During his introductory news conference on Thursday, July 18, Hield discussed his excitement at getting the opportunity to share the court with Steph Curry. He explained how he’s looking to learn from the Warriors superstar and hopes to incorporate some of those lessons into his own game.

“Steph, he’s the one. I’ve been watching all my life,” Hield said. “I’m a sponge. Ready to learn. Ready to watch him and see how he goes about his shooting mechanics. The way he goes about how he works, his routine. I think it’ll be an interesting year for me. … I think it’s fun. I’m excited.”

Hield, 31, isn’t guaranteed a starting spot on the Warriors roster next season. Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody will provide stern competition throughout the season. Nevertheless, his presence in the rotation will ensure the Warriors’ spacing remains elite, giving Curry the room he needs to operate on the perimeter.

The Warriors did an excellent job in pivoting to acquire Hield. He fits Steve Kerr’s offensive system and helps replace a significant portion of what the team lost when Thompson left. It will be interesting to see how he can fit next to Curry and whether the experiment pays dividends.

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Former Sooner Alondes Williams throws down monster dunk in Summer League

Williams spent two seasons in Norman before transferring to Wake Forest.

Former Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball player [autotag]Alondes Williams[/autotag] is making quite the impression on the NBA this summer.

The former OU guard is taking part in the NBA2K Summer League as a member of the Miami Heat. He threw down perhaps the dunk of the summer in Las Vegas on Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

10/10, no notes.

Williams played two seasons for the Sooners from 2019 to 2021. He was a member of the last OU men’s basketball team to win a game in the [autotag]NCAA tournament,[/autotag] as Oklahoma made it to the second round in 2021, [autotag]Lon Kruger[/autotag]’s final season.

The combo guard transferred to Wake Forest for his final season of college basketball before going undrafted in 2022. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Miami Heat. Plays like that could help him catch on in the league.

Williams is trying to become the fourth active Sooner in the NBA after [autotag]Blake Griffin[/autotag]’s retirement earlier this year. [autotag]Buddy Hield[/autotag] (Warriors), [autotag]Trae Young[/autotag] (Hawks) and [autotag]Austin Reaves[/autotag] (Lakers) are the other three.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Does Buddy Hield move the needle for the Warriors?

How much on an impact can Buddy Hield make for the Golden State Warriors?

Buddy Hield will replace the perimeter scoring the Golden State Warriors lost when Klay Thompson left for the Dallas Mavericks at the start of free agency. The Warriors front office quickly pivoted to ensure Steph Curry would have the necessary floor spacing to continue cooking opposing defenses without dealing with countless double and triple teams.

There aren’t many better volume three-point shooters than Hield. He averages 40% from deep for his career, and hit 38.6% of his three-point attempts this past season. As such, Steve Kerr won’t need to make too many alterations to a system that has allowed the Warriors to dominate for over a decade.

Nevertheless, there are still questions surrounding the level of impact Hield will have on the Warriors rotation. In a recent video by YouTube channel “Swish Central,” the hosts discuss how the veteran floor spacer can help elevate Golden State’s perimeter offense, and why his scoring gravity could unlock Curry’s overall game.

You can watch the full video by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Buddy Hield to wear No. 7 with Warriors

The new sharpshooting guard will wear No. 7 with the Warriors.

After a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers that was included in the league’s first-ever six-team trade, Buddy Hield is officially a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Before the guard lines up next to Steph Curry for the first time, Hield has to pick his jersey number with the Warriors. After wearing No. 17 with the Sixers, Hield is set to wear No. 7 with the Warriors, according to Etienne Catalan.

Via @EtienneCatalan on Twitter:

Hield wore No. 7 during his three-season run with the Indiana Pacers. Prior to that, Hield wore No. 24 with the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings, the same number he wore at the University of Oklahoma.

Patrick Baldwin Jr. was the last member of the Warriors to wear No. 7. Players like Antwan Jamison, Jeremy Lin, Jermaine O’Neal and Eric Paschall wore No. 7 with the Warriors. Current Golden State broadcaster Kelenna Azubuike also wore No. 7 during his time with the Warriors.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Have Warriors built a ‘splash brothers’ 2.0 with Buddy Hield additon?

Does the Golden State Warriors addition of Buddy Hield mean we will see a Splash Brothers 2.0?

The Golden State Warriors have acquired Buddy Hield via sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. The deal is part of the larger six-team sign-and-trade the sent Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks. Hield will slot straight into the role Thompson has vacated, ensuring Steph Curry has another floor spacer in the rotation to ensure defenses can’t easily load up on him.

Hield is a career 40% shooter from 3-point range. Like Thompson, he can operate off the catch or off the pull-up. He isn’t as defensively versatile as Thompson is, but does give you similar off-ball movement and secondary drives to the rim when attacking close-outs. Ultimately, Hield was among the best candidates to replace Thompson’s floor spacing and allow Curry to continue cooking in space.

In a recent video by “7Man” on YouTube, Hield’s addition has been floated as Golden State’s way or re-igniting the Splash Brothers, with Hield’s addition ushering in a “2.0 version.” Kerr’s pace and space offensive system will provide Hield with plenty of opportunities to thrive next to Curry. Whether we will see a new iteration of the “Splash Brothers” emerge remains to be seen.

You can watch the full video by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Lakers made an offer to Buddy Hield before he chose the Warriors

Contrary to appearances, the Lakers did reportedly try to land sharpshooter Buddy Hield before he opted to head north instead.

On Thursday, as the nation celebrated the Fourth of July, the Los Angeles Lakers watched another useful free agent go off the board and agree to join a different team.

Sharpshooting guard Buddy Hield had been available for several days following the official start of NBA free agency. Early on Thursday, he agreed to join the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal involving the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Warriors will reportedly only be giving up a 2031 second-round draft pick to obtain Hield, who is a career 40% 3-point shooter and has averaged 7.6 3-point attempts a game in his eight NBA seasons.

It almost seems like a slap in the face to the Lakers, who haven’t signed a single free agent from another team and would likely have to give up at least one first-round pick to land a player comparable to Hield in a potential trade.

Apparently, the Lakers did make an attempt to bring in Hield, but he chose Golden State for a telling reason.

Via The Athletic:

“Hield chose the Warriors because of the opportunity to win, per league sources,” wrote Shams Charania, Mark Puleo, Anthony Slater and Mike Vorkunov. “His suitors included the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers.”

It’s hard to imagine the Warriors, who missed the playoffs this past season and just lost five-time All-Star Klay Thompson, as being closer to an NBA championship than the Lakers, who did make the playoffs and could’ve easily finished fourth in the Western Conference had they bothered to play hard against inferior teams. But perhaps there is a perception that the Lakers are a certifiably mediocre team these days.

The Lakers have notably been interested in Hield in the past. He was the player they were reportedly set to trade for before they pivoted and landed Russell Westbrook in 2021. Now, they have missed yet another opportunity to add him and his much-needed 3-point marksmanship.

Former Sooner Buddy Hield joining Golden State Warriors

Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball legend Buddy Hield is now a Golden State Warrior.

Former Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball star [autotag]Buddy Hield[/autotag] has found his new team for the 2024-2025 NBA season.

The OU legend will be joining the Golden State Warriors on a sign-and-trade deal with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers. ESPN NBA analyst Adrian Wojnarowski took to social media on Thursday to announce the news.

Hield’s new contract in the Bay Area is a guaranteed two years and $21 million. He will get $18 million in first two years, a $3 million partial guarantee in the third year and player option on a non-guaranteed fourth year. The Sixers will receive a 2031 second round pick.

“Buddy Love” led the Sooners all the way to the Final Four in 2016, headlining [autotag]Lon Kruger[/autotag]’s best team in Norman. In that storied senior season, Hield averaged 25 points per game on better than 50% shooting. His run in the NCAA Tournament is the lasting image of OU hoops in the 2010s.

Hield was a consensus All-American in 2016, winning the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award. He was also the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] Player of the Year. He led the Sooners to their fifth and most recent trip to the Final Four. Oklahoma also made the Final Four in 1939, 1947, 1988 and 2002.

Hield is one of the faces of Oklahoma basketball in the modern era, along with recently retired [autotag]Blake Griffin[/autotag] (2007-2009) and Atlanta Hawks star [autotag]Trae Young[/autotag] (2017-2018). He’ll join Golden State as a three-point shooting replacement for Klay Thompson, whom the Warriors lost in free agency earlier this offseason.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Report: Warriors land Buddy Hield in sign-and-trade deal

The Golden State Warriors are acquiring the veteran sharpshooter via sign-and-trade.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Golden State Warriors are acquiring veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hiled via a sign-and-trade deal which has now evolved into a five-team trade. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater has reported that Kyle Anderson and Hield are the “combined return” for Thompson moving to the Dallas Mavericks.

Hield has signed a four-year contract with Golden State, with the first two years fully guaranteed at $21 million, the final year of the deal only has $3 million partially guaranteed. In contrast, the final year is a player option with non-guaranteed money.

Hield will help plug a significant amount of the perimeter scoring the franchise lost when Klay Thompson opted to join the Dallas in free agency. Hield, 31, is a career 40% shooter from the perimeter and can score off the catch via movement or off the dribble.

Despite being known for his scoring ability, Heild averaged 2.8 assists per game last season and could slot into Steve Kerr’s motion-based offense without forcing the ball to stick. Most importantly, his presence will ensure teams don’t overload Steph Curry in half-court situations.

Hield may not be the final addition to the Warriors roster this summer, with the franchise reportedly interested in adding Lauri Markkanen to the rotation via trade. For now, though, Golden State has replenished their perimeter scoring without giving up much trade capital in the process; they will likely see that as a win.

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