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Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against Cody Martin.
The Golden State Warriors may be having one of their quietest offseasons in years, but that hasn’t stopped them from making headlines. The latest buzz centers around Buddy Hield, the veteran sharpshooter who led the Warriors with 33 points in their Game 7 first-round win over the Houston Rockets.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Golden State has made it clear this summer that they won’t entertain sign-and-trade scenarios involving Hield. The reasoning is simple: outside of Stephen Curry, the Warriors don’t have many proven perimeter threats.
“Golden State has refused this summer to even entertain sign-and-trade scenarios that would require it to surrender either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody because of the limited options currently on the roster in terms of proven shooters,” Fischer reported.
Why the Warriors Value Buddy Hield
Hield’s arrival followed a solid stretch with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he averaged 12.2 points per game on 38.9% shooting from three. He gave Golden State an immediate shooting boost, lighting it up at a 50% clip from deep in October and 41.4% in November before settling into a more modest rhythm.
By the end of the season, Hield was still connecting on 37.0% of his three-pointers — a mark that ranks above the league average and underscores his consistency. For a Warriors team built around spacing, keeping him out of trade talks makes perfect sense.
Hield’s career 39.7% shooting from beyond the arc speaks for itself. He has the ability to swing games when he catches fire, and Golden State knows how valuable that skill is within Steve Kerr‘s motion offense.
Warriors’ Offseason Strategy
The Warriors’ refusal to part with Hield also signals their broader strategy. Golden State has spent much of the offseason sorting through the Jonathan Kuminga contract standoff, leaving little room for splashy moves elsewhere. Protecting their shooting depth has become a priority.
By holding firm on Hield, the Warriors maintain a vital piece of their rotation while leaving the door open for smaller roster tweaks. In a Western Conference that keeps getting tougher, Golden State is betting that reliable floor spacing around Curry remains their best formula for competing.
What Comes Next?
Getty Buddy Hield scored a playoff career-high 33 points in Game 7 to lead the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State may not have landed any big-name stars this summer, but keeping Hield in the fold could prove just as important. Reliable three-point shooting has long been the Warriors’ lifeline, and moving off one of their only trusted shooters would have been a risky play.
Instead, Golden State is choosing continuity — a decision that may not dominate headlines, but one that reinforces how the Warriors plan to maximize their roster heading into another critical season.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins