NBA Free Agent Reportedly Spurns Lakers To Sign With Warriors

According to The Athletic, Buddy Hield chose the Golden State Warriors over the Lakers and Pistons.

Dec 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

On July 4, Buddy Hield was one of the best free agents remaining on the market.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that Hield is heading to the Golden State Warriors as part of a sign-and-trade (with the Philadelphia 76ers).

Warriors are sending a 2031 Dallas second-round pick to Philadelphia to complete sign-and-trade for Hield, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. https://t.co/eVehtKrhyM

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024

Following the news, Charania, Anthony Slater, Mark Puleo and Mike Vorkunov wrote a detailed piece for The Athletic.

They reported that Hield chose the Warriors over the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.

Via The Athletic: "Hield chose the Warriors because of the opportunity to win, per league sources. His suitors included the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers."

Developing story at @TheAthletic on Warriors reaching a trade to acquire Buddy Hield as Golden State picks up Hield, Kyle Anderson and De'Anthony Melton after losing Klay Thompson: https://t.co/7igENlCQf2

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024

The Pistons had another tough season where they missed the NBA playoffs for the fifth straight year.

That said, the Lakers are arguably better than the Warriors heading into the 2024-25 season, which is what makes the decision from Hield even more intriguing.

Buddy Hield chose the Warriors over the Lakers, per @ShamsCharania

“Hield chose the Warriors because of the opportunity to win over other interested suitors, including the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers. After losing Thompson, the Warriors were in desperate search for a… pic.twitter.com/RK5yVzbRhZ

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 4, 2024

On the other hand, Hield is among the best three-point shooters in the NBA, so wanting to play with Steph Curry and the Warriors makes sense.

He is coming off a year where he played for the 76ers (and Indiana Pacers).

The former Oklahoma superstar averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting 43.6% from the field and 38.6% from the three-point range in 84 games.

Apr 17, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Buddy Hield (17) dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the third quarter of a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Warriors have won four titles since the 2015 season, but they are coming off a year where they were the tenth seed in the Western Conference with a 46-36 record.

They lost to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.