Buddy Hield will join the Warriors in a sign-and-trade where Golden State sends the Philadelphia 76ers one second-round pick for facilitating the trade. Hield made the decision as a free agent, being personally recruited while playing for the Bahamas national team by their coach, Chris DeMarco, who is also an assistant on the Golden State Warriors.
“Hield is currently in Valencia, Spain, starring for the Bahamian national team, which is two wins away from a shocking Olympics bid, and is coached by Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco, a helpful ally in the recruitment of Hield. It had been trending this direction for a couple of days, but Hield didn’t make a final decision until after a late Wednesday night call with Steve Kerr and then a night to sleep on it.”
Buddy Hield had 17 points (1-5 2PT, 5-10 3PT), six rebounds, and 10 assists in the Bahamas’ win over Poland. Hield had 24 points (1/4 2PT, 6-12 3PT) and seven rebounds in their first Qualifier win over Finland.
As he’s excelling for the Bahamas, Coach DeMarco is getting to directly prepare Hield for what he’ll face in San Francisco when he joins the Warriors for training camp.
DeMarco has a wonderful story behind his rise to being a coach, being a Warriors employee for the last 12 seasons. He joined the franchise as a video coordinator in 2012, advancing to become a video scout before becoming a player development coach in 2015. He became Director of Player Development in 2018 and finally moved into a bench assistant coaching position in Steve Kerr’s staff in 2021, winning a championship in 2022.
DeMarco has been coaching the Bahamas national team since 2019, hoping to lead them to the 2024 Olympics with an NBA core of Hield, Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, and 2025 Draft prospect V.J. Edgecombe.
The Warriors Have Replaced Klay Thompson With Depth
For the outgoing Klay Thompson, the Warriors have made three free-agent signings who they hope can replace his production. Two direct replacements for him are De’Anthony Melton and now Hield.
Hield averaged 12.1 points on 38.6% from three last season, playing for the Pacers and 76ers. He averaged 12.0 points on 38.4% from three in 52 games with the Pacers before averaging 12.2 points on 38.9% from three in 32 games with the 76ers. last season for the Pacers and 76ers.
Melton averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists for the 76ers last season, proving his value in the NBA as a two-way combo guard with solid fundamentals. He could add a defensive presence in the backcourt next to Curry, especially to cover Hield’s defensive deficiencies.
The third free agent signing the Warriors have made is Kyle Anderson, who will add depth in the frontcourt as a versatile power/small forward. His athleticism won’t jump off the page but he could be a great backup behind the likes of Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green to provide stability to the roster. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
The offseason isn’t over yet, as the Warriors are still in talks for major moves such as a possible trade acquisition for Lauri Markkanen. Given the playable depth they’ve added to the roster, the Warriors will feel comfortable starting the season with their lineup. But the need to bring Stephen Curry a co-star shouldn’t be forgotten, so pursuing Markkanen is important for the franchise.
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