The Warriors may not have added a proven All-Star this offseason, but someone thinks Buddy Hield will become one.
The Golden State Warriors fell short in their attempts to acquire a bonafide star to the roster this offseason. When paired with the departure of franchise icon Klay Thompson, it sure looks like the Dubs will be relying on Steph Curry and Draymond Green more than ever this upcoming season. However, while the Warriors have not added a player with an All-Star appearance on their resume, at least one ESPN NBA expert thinks one of their offseason acquisitions is in prime position to receive their first-career selection.
ESPN released a series of predictions based on votes by their NBA staff on Monday about the upcoming 2024-25 season. One of the questions asked the experts who they thought was the most likely player to receive their first-career All-Star nod. While Victor Wembanyama was the runaway favorite, receiving 90% of first-place votes, a Warriors player finished seventh in the voting. It wasn’t Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski, it was veteran guard Buddy Hield. Final vote tallies were not released, but based on their scoring system, Hield either received one second-place vote or three third-place votes.
Hield is the most seamless replacement for Thompson in head coach Steve Kerr’s system. With floor-spacing likely limited by members of the rotation like Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and possibly wings like Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, and Gary Payton II (depending on their various streaks), Hield is easily the Dubs second-best outside scoring threat after Curry. Given how Andrew Wiggins found his way to All-Star Weekend after joining Golden State, it seems like someone thinks Hield could follow a similar path.
At the peak of his productivity up to this point in his career, Hield averaged 20.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on 42.7% shooting from three during the 2018-19 season with the Sacramento Kings. It’s easy to see how someone could convince themselves that playing alongside a movement-focused offense built around the greatest-shooter of all time that lacks a second scorer could be the perfect situation for Hield to make waves, put up even better numbers, and reach the All-Star Game.
The biggest impediment to Hield’s All-Star prospects, however, may not be his productivity, but his role in the rotation. Hield may be the most similar player to Thompson, but fellow offseason acquisition De’Anthony Melton is a solid shooter with a much more well-refined game. A standout defender, Melton could very well end up forming the starting back court with Curry.
Yet even if Hield is ahead of Melton, there’s no guarantee that either will receive a starting role without an injury since Brandin Podziemski is coming off an excellent rookie campaign where he jostled with Thompson for a starting role. Mix in a crowded wing depth chart with Green, Wiggins, Kuminga, Payton, and Kyle Anderson and envisioning a scenario where Hield receives enough consistent playing time to put up the requisite numbers to reach the All-Star Game seems even more difficult.