The Golden State Warriors they parted ways with four-time champion Klay Thompson, but landed another leading scorer in free agency.
Buddy Hield is set to join the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, agreeing to a four-year contract that includes $18 million guaranteed, a person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. The person asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the contract was signed.
In return, Philadelphia will receive a 2031 second-round pick the Warriors got in Thompson’s deal with the Mavericks.
Hield, who was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the 76ers in February, averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in a career-high 84 games during the 2023-24 NBA season.
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Hield will form a formidable backcourt with Steph Curry, who made a league-leading 357 three-pointers last season. Hield shot 38.6 percent from deep last season, slightly below his career average of 40 percent.
It marks the latest acquisition for the Warriors after Thompson left the team in free agency. Thompson, who spent his entire career with the Warriors, plans to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.
Thompson, a five-time All-Star with four championships with Golden State, averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists and shot 38.7 percent from three for the Warriors last season.
Contributed by: Jeff Zillgitt