NBA Rumors: Warriors Could Cut Ties With Buddy Hield To Acquire $163 Million 3x All-Star
The Golden State Warriors narrowly escaped a season-ending collapse on Tuesday.
A loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play-In game would have sent them into a do-or-die matchup against either the Sacramento Kings or Dallas Mavericks. Instead, the Warriors held on for a 121-116 victory, securing the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
Now, their first-round challenge is the rising Houston Rockets—a tough matchup, but an early playoff exit could actually benefit Golden State in the long run.
If they bow out sooner than hoped, it might finally push the franchise to move on from Buddy Hield, whose shooting struggles have persisted, and pursue a game-changing upgrade: three-time All-Star forward Bam Adebayo.
Since being drafted in 2017, Adebayo has evolved far beyond his early reputation as a defensively strong but offensively limited big man.
Once seen primarily as a physical post presence, the former Kentucky standout has expanded his game to include face-up drives, perimeter attacks, and a reliable mid-to-long-range jumper.
This season, he averaged 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 48.5% from the field and a respectable 35.7% from three.
Meanwhile, Hield—who initially seemed like a solid fill-in for Klay Thompson—has regressed significantly. After a strong start (shooting over 35% from deep in the first 20+ games), his efficiency plummeted, hovering near 30% in December and January.
Even in the Play-In win over Memphis, he went just 1-of-4 from beyond the arc, raising further concerns about his reliability in the postseason.
Swapping Hield for Adebayo wouldn’t solve Golden State’s outside shooting woes, but it would give them a dynamic frontcourt scorer and form a new-look Big Three alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
With Adebayo’s two-way versatility and improving offensive game, he could be the missing piece the Warriors need—making him a realistic and enticing trade target this offseason.
Image - Robert Edwards-Imagn
