On Thursday, while the nation celebrated the Fourth of July, the Los Angeles Lakers experienced another setback in their quest to strengthen their roster. Sharpshooting guard Buddy Hield, who had been a free agent since the official start of NBA free agency, agreed to join the Golden State Warriors. This move came as part of a sign-and-trade deal involving the Philadelphia 76ers, where the Warriors will give up a 2031 second-round draft pick to secure Hield.

Hield, a proficient 3-point shooter with a career average of 40% from beyond the arc, has been a significant offensive asset throughout his eight NBA seasons, averaging 7.6 3-point attempts per game. His decision to join the Warriors is particularly disheartening for the Lakers, who have yet to sign any free agents from other teams this offseason. The Lakers had been pursuing Hield, hoping to bolster their perimeter shooting capabilities, but ultimately, they lost out to the Warriors.

According to a report from The Athletic by Shams Charania, Mark Puleo, Anthony Slater, and Mike Vorkunov, Hield chose the Warriors "because of the opportunity to win." Besides the Lakers, the Detroit Pistons were also in the running for Hield’s services.

The choice of the Warriors over the Lakers might seem surprising to some, given that the Warriors missed the playoffs last season and recently lost five-time All-Star Klay Thompson. In contrast, the Lakers made the playoffs and could have secured a higher seed in the Western Conference had they played more consistently against weaker teams. However, there appears to be a perception that the Lakers are now a middling team, which might have influenced Hield's decision.

This isn't the first time the Lakers have shown interest in Hield. They were reportedly close to acquiring him in 2021 before pivoting to trade for Russell Westbrook instead. Missing out on Hield again means the Lakers must continue their search for a reliable 3-point shooter to complement their roster.

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