As the Golden State Warriors enter the season, their offseason signing of De'Anthony Melton and the apparent resurgence of Brandin Podziemski both serve as strong signs for the continued viability of their backcourt.
Yet, in the process, beloved guard Buddy Hield, who can be a somewhat inconsistent shooter and is difficult to trust in the most vital moments of games, could be hard-pressed to earn his minutes, and the Warriors may find themselves increasingly turning their other options instead.
Hield, 32, was an integral piece to the morale and the chemistry that the team built up following the Jimmy Butler trade and will continue to be so in 2025-26.