The newest Warriors contract
There can be no replacing Klay Thompson, but the Golden State Warriors did about as well as they could on that front, agreeing to a sign-and-trade with sharpshooter Buddy Hield shortly after the 2024 NBA free agency period got underway. While the basics of the contract were quickly reported, we now have the full details of the contract, thanks to Spotrac and our good buddies who run the Warriors subreddit Twitter account.
Buddy Hield's full contract details (via @spotrac):
— GSWCBA (@gswcba) July 8, 2024
2024/25: $8,780,488
2025/26: $9,219,512
2026/27: $9,658,537 ($3M Guaranteed)
2027/28: $10,097,561 (Non-Guaranteed + Player Option)
2028 (UFA): Full Bird Rights
26/27 and 27/28 both guarantee day after respective NBA drafts
Hield’s first two seasons will pay him exactly $18 million combined, with just over half of that coming in the second year of the deal. A potential third year of the contract is only partially guaranteed: if the Warriors pick up the option, Hield will make just over $9.6 million. However, the Warriors can opt out of the third year and pay Hield a $3 million buyout.
Similarly, if Hield stays on the Warriors through three years, a similar situation will play out in the fourth year, per Spotrac. The Warriors can opt out of Hield’s roughly $10.1 million fourth year for about $3.1 million. In both the third and fourth years, those option dates for the Warriors are the day after the draft (though, as we just saw with Chris Paul, the two sides can mutually agree to push back the date).
Hield will also have a player option for that fourth and final year, and that deadline is June 29, 2027. So in essence, both he and the Warriors will have to want him back for the 2027-28 season at that price point, as either side can opt out in some form or fashion.
Should Hield stay on the Warriors for all four seasons, he’ll enter unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2028, though the Warriors will retain his Bird rights, meaning they can go over the salary cap to retain him.
