NBA Rumors: Buddy Hield Picked Warriors over Lakers, Pistons After Steve Kerr Call

Buddy Hield is joining the Golden State Warriors after a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, and the veteran three-point specialist had a handful of options before deciding on the Dubs.

Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Mark Puleo, Anthony Slater and Mike Vorkunov, Hield had offers from the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons. Ultimately, it was a phone call with head coach Steve Kerr that swayed him to pick Golden State.

"Hield is currently in Valencia, Spain, starring for the Bahamian national team, which is two wins away from a shocking Olympics bid and is coached by Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco, a helpful ally in the recruitment of Hield. It had been trending this direction for a couple days, but Hield didn't make a final decision until after a late Wednesday night call with Steve Kerr and then a night to sleep on it," Charania, Puleo, Slater and Vorkunov reported. "Hield chose the Warriors because of the opportunity to win over other interested suitors, including the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers."

Hield, who averaged 12.1 points per game across stints with the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers last year, could have teamed up with LeBron James and the Lakers, who will likely be contenders next season, but Kerr managed to get through to him and convince him the Warriors can make a push for a championship next season.

Whether that will be true is yet to be determined, but Hield certainly helps fill a major void for Golden State next season after it lost veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson. Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks via a sign-and-trade this week, ending a 13-year stint with the Warriors.

While Hield won't completely make up for what Thompson brought to the Warriors, he will at least give the team another solid option from beyond the arc.