The Golden State Warriors made a strategic move ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft by trading their No. 52 pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This trade, confirmed by a source to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, brings Lindy Waters III to the Warriors.
Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report the news, citing sources, with the Warriors later officially announcing the trade. According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors intend to keep Waters past his Saturday guarantee date, valuing the 26-year-old guard as a deep rotation option. Waters is set to earn $2.2 million in the upcoming season.
Waters’ journey to the NBA has been unconventional. After undrafted in 2020, he began his professional career with the Enid Outlaws of The Basketball League. In October 2021, Waters joined the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League affiliate. During his first season with the Blue, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
In February 2022, Waters signed a two-way contract with the Thunder, his hometown team. One year later, his performance earned him a multiyear standard NBA contract. Over 104 NBA games, Waters has averaged 5.3 points on 41.6 percent shooting from the field and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc, along with 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists.
This trade highlights the Warriors’ ongoing strategy to strengthen their roster depth and maintain competitive versatility. With Waters’ addition, the team gains a player with solid shooting skills and experience in both the G League and NBA. As the Warriors prepare for the upcoming season, Waters is expected to be a valuable asset in their rotation.