Klay Thompson has left the Golden State Warriors to join the Dallas Mavericks with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
He couldn’t agree on a new contract with Golden State, ending the era of their big three. Mike Dunleavy Jr. then brought in Buddy Hield from the Philadelphia 76ers to fill Thompson’s spot.
Hield is younger than Thompson and can shoot threes almost as well. According to John Hollinger from The Athletic, “The Warriors replaced a 41% career three-point shooter with a 40% career three-point shooter, and Hield is three years younger, less destructively thirsty inside the arc and more capable of guarding the perimeter.”
Golden State’s New Strategy:
Hield can hit shots while moving or standing still around the perimeter. His skills will make it harder for teams to focus only on Stephen Curry. Fans might think this change could bring back some excitement.
Steve Kerr likes his team to move a lot on offense. Curry’s constant motion is key for their plays. With Hield cutting, curling, or fading off screens, Golden Stateโs backcourt should be strong again from long range.
Hield has a four-year contract worth an average of $9.4M per year. If things don’t work out with Curry, they could trade him without much trouble.
So far, it looks like Hollinger was right about this move being smart for Golden State. They swapped an older player for a younger one who fits their style better.
What do you think about these changes?
