Buddy Hield has been disappointing for the Golden State Warriors this season, and there’s no way around it.
The former Philadelphia 76ers guard has yet to earn the ‘splash brother’ title in the Bay, as he’s currently on a downward spiral from a three-point shooting vantage point.
Hield is averaging 8.0 points per game while connecting on 40.4% of his triples, which explains why Steve Kerr has decreased his minutes this year.
If the Warriors are open to trading Hield before the Feb. 5 deadline, Blue Man Hoop’s G.C. Bellchamber believes that the Warriors should reunite with a 6-foot-6 forward in a Hield-centered deal.
“While many of their role players have been rather inconsistent, Hield has been among the least reliable,” Bellchamber wrote last Friday. “Although he has found his footing from a scoring perspective recently, he still is shooting 29.9% from 3-point range on the season, and Golden State has a whopping -8.5 net rating in his minutes on the court.
“(Georges) Niang, although he has yet to play this season as he recovers from a fractured foot, is nearing his return and could represent a more dependable presence as well as a better positional fit for the Warriors (Bellchamber included a second-round pick for the Utah Jazz in a mock trade swapping Hield for Niang).
“Last season, through 79 games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks, he averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc.”
Niang inked a deal with the Dubs in 2017 but didn’t appear in a game with the seven-time NBA champions due to their decision to waive him before opening night.
Considering Niang is a more impactful player than he was eight years ago, giving the Iowa State product a second chance may not be out of the realm of possibility for the Dubs.
While far from a speedster off the dribble, Niang has managed to remain employed in the big leagues thanks to his dependable spot-up shooting.
It’s challenging to shoot 40% from beyond the arc or better for seven straight seasons, but the 32-year-old is among the contributors on pace to do so.
Three-point shooting is the name of the game for Stephen Curry and the Warriors, making the idea of acquiring Niang one worth exploring.
More NBA: Bombshell trade news involving Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo is good news for Lakers
