NBA free agency 2024: Warriors did the best they could after losing
For a long time, fans were hoping for yet another kumbaya moment between Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors that would lead Thompson back to the Bay Area.
After all, it wouldn’t have been the first time fans had to navigate rumors of Thompson going elsewhere, with the Los Angeles Lakers seeming like a perpetual threat to finally wrestle him loose and end the first real golden era of basketball in the broader Oakland/San Francisco area.
The Lakers reportedly tried to land the veteran All-Star who’s widely regarded as the second-best shooter of all time. Yet, of all the teams to persuade Thompson to pick up his bags and seek new adventures, it was the Dallas Mavericks who closed the door on one of the best backcourts in NBA history.
It took $50 million over three seasons, plus the allure of playing with Luka Dončić, to pry him away. But pry him away they did, which left the Warriors with a sudden identity crisis.
How do you replace someone who helped you win four championships and played an integral part of your franchise for 13 years?
As we came to learn, the Warriors found the right answer: You don’t.
Instead, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. pivoted to a collective solution to replace Thompson — or rather, the idea of Thompson.
Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton are now Warriors, and both are expected to play significant roles. Hield, one can argue, might be the lone two guard in the league who has the will to step into a similar offensive role as Thompson’s, given his confidence and shooting prowess. If Thompson and Stephen Curry were the league’s best shooters, Hield was never far behind, frequently matching them in both volume or percentage in recent years.
The 31-year-old is an outright sniper who has connected on 39.2% of his 8.7 3-point attempts since the 2019-20 season, primarily off the catch, which will suit the…
