Dub Hub: Buddy Hield feels there’s ‘no pressure’ to replace Warriors legend Klay Thompson

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, July 19th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Newly signed Warriors player Buddy Hield says there’s no pressure to come in and replace franchise legend Klay Thompson.
• Stephen Curry ranks 14th on ESPN’s list of Top 100 professional athletes since 2000.
• Russell Westbrook traded from the Clippers to the Jazz and is expected to be bought out and signed by the Nuggets.

The Golden State Warriors have big shoes to fill after the departure of franchise legend Klay Thompson. He was a four-time champion, a fan favorite, and one of the greatest shooters the game has ever seen. His skillset on the court fit seamlessly with fellow teammates Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, as the core three served as the foundation of the NBA’s most recent dynasty.

Replacing Thompson’s impact on the court will be key for the Warriors this upcoming season, so part of the plan to do so was to acquire sharpshooter Buddy Hield in a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. While replacing one of the greatest shooters ever will be challenging, Hield feels there’s “no pressure” to replace the lofty standard set by Thompson.

Among the available options, Hield stood out as the most reasonable option to replicate Thompson’s impact on the court, especially at his price point (two-years guaranteed for $21 million). With a career three-point shooting percentage of 40%, Hield ranks third among active NBA players, trailing only Thompson (2nd) and Curry (1st).

Hield’s fit within the Warriors’ dynamic motion offense, which creates plenty of open looks for shooters, is a promising prospect. Teaming up with Curry and Green, Hield expressed his eagerness to contribute to the Warriors’ longtime success.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, July 19th:

Warriors News:

Buddy Hield Is Officially a Golden State Warrior | July 18, 2024

Ranking the top 100 professional athletes since 2000 | ESPN

14. Stephen Curry, basketball

Key accomplishments: NBA 75th Anniversary team, four-time NBA champion, 2022 Finals MVP, 10-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2022 All-Star Game MVP, two-time scoring leader, career leader in 3-pointers made

Curry had been reluctant to call himself the greatest shooter of all time until he broke the career 3-point scoring record. Once he achieved that milestone in December 2021, he wasn’t so shy about it anymore.

Curry has changed the way basketball is played — at every level of the sport. Nowadays you’ll find kids in high school gyms going through the same pregame shooting routine Curry does. And in the NBA, offenses are built around 3-point shooting like never before.

If the way he revolutionized the game isn’t enough to solidify his standing in the NBA — and among great athletes around the world — his résumé is. After winning his first Finals MVP in 2022, to go along with his four titles, 10 All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA teams and two MVPs, Curry asked: “What are they going to say now?” — Kendra Andrews

Lowe: The 7 most underdiscussed NBA teams this offseason | ESPN

That team is undeniably better, especially on offense. Markkanen would enable lineups that surround the Curry-Green fulcrum with shooting and playmaking — without sacrificing size. Somewhat slower paint-bound centers — including Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert among contenders — would have fewer places to hide, and more territory to cover.

Markkanen’s one-on-one scoring would give Golden State a bailout option for possessions when the beautiful game runs dry.

Markkanen is a so-so passer; it would take him time to adapt to Golden State’s whirring movement. But shooting is the great equalizer. The more space everyone has, the easier the reads are. Markkanen would provide Curry a new kind of pick-and-pop tool and trail into easy 3s behind Green’s mad dashes. He could even defend some centers to spare Green.

Warriors and Jazz probably have path to Lauri Markkanen trade, but what is the middle ground? | CBS Sports

That’s what Danny Ainge is banking on here. Historically speaking, he does not cave on asking prices in the trade market. Nobody would be surprised if he walked away from any offer that didn’t include both young Warriors. Golden State knew what it was getting into the moment it sat down at the table with him. Even if both of the young guys are off of the table, one of them is the fair concession. The Warriors and Jazz have three weeks to meet there, and they’re going to use every second of that time to try to force the other side to blink.

Buddy Hield shares his thoughts on the “Splash Buddies” nickname: “We just got to take it day by day”

NBA News:

Sources: Westbrook to join Nuggets after Clippers-Jazz trade | ESPN

The Clippers and Jazz agreed to a sign-and-trade deal involving Russell Westbrook, the teams announced Thursday, and sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the former MVP is expected to join the Nuggets after Utah waives him and buys out the remainder of his contract.

The Clippers received guard Kris Dunn from the Jazz as part of the sign-and-trade deal. The Clippers and Dunn agreed to a three-year, $17 million contract with a non-guaranteed season in the third year, sources told Wojnarowski.

Utah also received a 2030 second-round pick swap, the draft rights to center Balsa Koprivica, who was the 57th pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and $4.3 million in cash, sources said.

Team USA Is Tearing Through Its Olympic Tune-Up Games. What Has Stood Out? | The Ringer

Joel Embiid Is Stumbling

The most significant and somewhat predictable takeaway from Team USA’s tune-up slate has to be how awkward Embiid looks. Bound by the FIBA rule book, suddenly featured on a team that doesn’t need to run its entire offense through him, the two-time scoring champion has seemingly misremembered how to score. Unlike in the NBA, where his efforts to manufacture unnatural contact are rewarded with a nightly parade to the free throw line, Embiid’s attempts to bait the officials have not worked.

Kevin Durant is expected to return to Team USA practice, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Are the Warriors too attached to Brandin Podziemski?

Context is always key when evaluating how much a team values a player. The Warriors and Jazz having a deal hung up on Podziemski doesn’t mean Golden State thinks their young guard is better than a proven All-Star forward ... it means they think their young guard with his contract status included, plus the other draft picks and players they’d need to part with is more valuable than Markkanen, especially when his contract status is included.

A tweet to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.