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.
Hield doesn't feel any pressure to step in and replace Klay Thompson 👀 pic.twitter.com/e4Lyi3WEQI
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 18, 2024
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.
