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Warriors HC reveals 'Klay Thompson-style' plan for replacement Buddy Hield
Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Warriors HC reveals 'Klay Thompson-style' plan for replacement Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield is tasked with replacing longtime guard Klay Thompson on the Golden State Warriors this season. Considering that the now-Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter won four championships in the Bay Area, Hield has some big shoes to fill as a secondary perimeter threat next to Steph Curry.

Fortunately for Hield, Steve Kerr revealed that the Warriors have a plan. According to the veteran head coach, Golden State will likely run Thompson-style actions for Hield as they leverage his movement shooting and ability to get shots off the catch.

“One of the reasons we are excited to get Buddy Hield is because we will run some of the same stuff that we ran for Klay for Buddy,” Kerr told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “Draymond and Steph will be looking for him on the perimeter when they're playing with him. And then the other new guys, Melton, Kyle Anderson — there's a reason we targeted them too. They fit any lineup, such smart tough players that they're easy to play with."

Last season, Hield averaged 4.3 three-point attempts off the catch for the Philadelphia 76ers, converting those looks at an elite 43.1%. He also took 1.9 off-the-dribble threes per game but struggled for consistency, converting at a paltry 29.5% success rate. 

Asking Hield to cut, curl or flare off screens will be the ideal way for the Warriors to get a consistent output from the veteran sharpshooter when he's operating on the perimeter. He's been one of the best three-point marksmen in the league throughout his career. 

Hield's addition to the Warriors roster will ensure the team's spacing remains similar to when Thompson was suiting up for the franchise. More importantly, it will ensure teams don't look to load up on Curry when he's on the perimeter, which can create some difficult decisions for the defense to navigate.

Golden State is still not back to a championship level regarding raw talent on the roster. However, they've had a strong summer of recruitment and now have a deep pool of rotational talent. 

Hield projects to be an ideal addition to Kerr's rotation. If he can handle the high volume of shots, he will undoubtedly be force-fed; he could be in for a career year. 

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