Buddy Hield is finally a member of the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State completed a sign-and-trade with Hield earlier today despite rumors circulating since Tuesday that the Warriors were interested in the 6-foot-4 wing. It marks the Warriors' third private transaction of the offseason.
Hield will make $37.4 million over four years with Golden State. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 31-year-old is set to make about $8.7 million this season with $18 million guaranteed over his first two seasons. He's set to make $9.5 million in 2026-27, but only $3 million is guaranteed, and his $10 million in 2027-28 is non-guaranteed.
While the trade itself isn't complicated, there are a lot of moving parts (mainly future assets) and, per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, all three of the Warriors' “individual trades” have now officially become five-team deals: Golden State, Minnesota, Dallas, Philadelphia and Charlotte are all in the mix for Klay Thompson.
In the end, the Warriors ended up losing Thompson in free agency in exchange for Hield, Kyle Anderson and a second-round pick in 2025. The trade was put together for salary-cap reasons.
NBA trade assessment: Warriors acquire Buddy Hield in complicated deal, what's next for Sixers and Warriors?
But under today's deal, Golden State would send a 2031 second-round pick to Philadelphia via Dallas in exchange for Hield.
Hield is coming off his worst season since his rookie season in 2016-17, averaging 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 82 games. He still averaged 2.6 three-pointers per game on 43.6/38.6/88.1% success rates. He had one double-double, scored double figures 56 times, surpassed 20 points eight times and reached 30 points once.
Hield is currently competing in the Olympic qualifiers in Spain with the Bahamas national team, coached by Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco, who The Athletic's Shams Charania called a key ally in Hield's recruitment.
Charania added that Hield chose Golden State over other contenders, including Detroit and the Los Angeles Lakers, because of the chance to win a championship.
Golden State Warriors trade rating: A
Hield is one of the best three-point snipers in the game right now and will be moving to the Bay Area on a very lucrative contract for the team, plus the Warriors only gave up the down-the-line second-round draft pick they received from the Mavericks.
Hield made $19.8 million last season. He and Anderson have certainly made up for Thompson's absence. Hield ranks 10th among active players in 3-pointers made (1,924), 11th in 3-pointers attempted (1,924) and 13th in 3-point shooting percentage (40%). He also has the 49th-best effective shooting field percentage in NBA history (55.1%).
What's next for the Warriors?
Golden State has 14 players on standard contracts, making just $883,206 in the NBA's first tax bracket. The Warriors are unlikely to sign any new players unless they release forward Guy Santos, who is on a nonguaranteed contract. The Warriors also have two of their three two-way spots filled.
Philadelphia 76ers Trade Rating: C
Philadelphia wasted a second-round pick way back when, and while the 76ers could have used Hield's shooting, he was out of the rotation in last season's playoffs and likely would have been too expensive for the 76ers anyway.
What's next for the 76ers?
Philadelphia has nine players on standard contracts with a combined allocation of $167.8 million. Thus, the Sixers would owe $21.1 million under the punitive second tax line. Paul Reed ($7.7 million) is on a non-guaranteed contract, so the Sixers have some flexibility. It was previously reported that Reed, 25, likely will not be with the Sixers at the start of the season.
The 76ers have a lot of work to do this offseason, adding at least five players and signing them to two-way contracts after filling the gaps with 19-year-old undrafted free agent Justin Edwards.
Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports reported the 76ers are interested in unrestricted free agent Caleb Martin, but noted Martin may be outside their budget range. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer has heard Marcus Morris and Haywood Highsmith are a few players the 76ers are interested in.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto added Dorian Finney-Smith, Kyle Lowry, Reggie Bullock and Lester Quinones. Additionally, Scotto said second-round pick Adem Bona is expected to sign a standard contract.
