Although Buddy Hield has performed well from beyond the arc in bunches this season, he hasn’t been the most reliable long-range shooting threat for the Golden State Warriors lately.
Hield, who connected on 50% of his triples in October and 41.4% in November, has struggled with consistency since the beginning of December, causing many to question his fit with the three-point-heavy Warriors.
If Hield fails to develop a rhythm from deep, Golden may consider reuniting Stephen Curry and the Warriors with a four-time NBA champion guard known for his high-level perimeter shooting.
“While a return to the Warriors would seem very unlikely at this stage, the idea of (Klay) Thompson getting traded somewhere isn’t that far-fetched given the uncertainty facing the (Dallas) Mavericks right now,” Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe wrote Wednesday.
“Does Thompson want to stick it out with a team that sold him a dream that’s failed to come to fruition, part of which has been their own doing?”
“As for the Warriors, Thompson could actually still play a role on this team who are now surging towards a playoff spot. It’s not to difficult to imagine the franchise legend being an upgrade from Buddy Hield, having shot 40.2% from beyond the arc on 7.8 attempts per game with Dallas this season.”
Thompson recently enjoyed a remarkable 13-year run with the Warriors.
Thompson, an aesthetically pleasing jump shooter who has mastered the art of using pin downs and stagger screens, won four championships alongside Curry in the Bay.
Unfortunately, after a disappointing showing in the No. 9 vs No. 10 Play-In contest against the Sacramento Kings last season, the Warriors swapped Thompson for Hield in the offseason.
Although the Mavericks’ 2024-25 campaign has been disastrous, Thompson has continued to score efficiently from three-point land.
The Washington State product averages 14.1 points per game and shoots 41.6% from the field and 40.2% from downtown.
Considering many believe Thompson will be on the move again once free agency begins, the Dubs should attempt to steal the Golden State icon from Dallas and surround Curry with a familiar face.
While Hield’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed this year, Thompson is undoubtedly the safer wing option for the championship-contending Warriors.
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