After appearing in 122 consecutive games for the Golden State Warriors, including playoffs, coach Steve Kerr realized in late December that Buddy Hield was not essential to the team’s rotation. Though this decision was made weeks ago, the Atlanta Hawks, who acquired Hield in the trade for Kristaps Porzingis just before the deadline, have swiftly adopted a similar stance by limiting Hield’s minutes.
Hield did not play in his first game for Atlanta against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday but made his debut during Monday’s heavy defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. He was the first player involved in the trade to take the court, as both Porzingis and Jonathan Kuminga were sidelined until after the All-Star break.
Minimal On-Court Impact and Competition for Guard Roles
Despite stepping onto the floor, Hield’s time was very restricted, totaling less than five minutes in the first half before being benched for the rest of the game. The Hawks suffered a 138-116 loss, and even with key starters Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels unavailable, Hield’s opportunities remained scarce. He missed his single three-point shot attempt and recorded one turnover, finishing without any other statistics.
Hield’s limited usage did not generate much attention, but a brief moment on Instagram gained traction when fellow sharpshooter and former teammate Jimmy Butler posted a photo tagging, “Why you trade me” accompanied by a crying emoji.
“Miss this duo ð pic.twitter.com/PbzQb0bUwz”
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 10, 2026
This interaction suggested that despite reduced playing time late in his Warriors tenure, Hield preferred to stay with Golden State. He signed a four-year, $37.8 million contract with the Warriors in the 2024 offseason, while Atlanta was far from his ideal destination. The Hawks had already strengthened their guard lineup significantly this season.
Strong Guard Depth Limits Hield’s Role on Hawks
After trading franchise star Trae Young to the Washington Wizards last month, Atlanta acquired CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, both scoring guards with defensive limitations who rank ahead of Hield in the rotation. Gabe Vincent, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, also played a notable 19 minutes off the bench in the recent game versus Minnesota.
The abundance of scoring guards in Atlanta makes it unlikely for Hield to secure consistent playing time for the rest of the season. Given this, the Hawks may opt against picking up the partially guaranteed $3 million option on his contract for next season.
Buddy Hield’s Season Performance Before the Trade
Before being traded, Hield averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over 44 games with Golden State, shooting 43.3% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc. These numbers reflect a solid, though not standout, contribution coming into the deal.
The limited minutes Hield is experiencing with the Hawks underscore the challenges of fitting into a crowded guard rotation and highlight why the Warriors determined earlier that he was expendable. The future for Hield in Atlanta appears uncertain, and his situation will bear watching as the team evaluates their roster moving forward.
Miss this duo 😂 pic.twitter.com/PbzQb0bUwz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 10, 2026
