Former Warriors guard lands surprise new home after Jimmy Butler trade

Former Golden State Warriors guard Lindy Waters III has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs, joining the Western Conference team just over three weeks into free agency. ESPN's Shams Charania reported the signing, noting Waters will play alongside Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and other young talents as the Spurs aim to build a championship-caliber roster.

The Warriors originally acquired Waters in a draft-day trade over a year ago, surrendering the 52nd overall pick to obtain the sharpshooter from the Oklahoma City Thunder – who had made him available after he fell out of their rotation. Waters initially showed promise with Golden State, notably hitting a game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointer against the LA Clippers in his preseason debut, where he scored 15 points in just 15 minutes. He later delivered a standout 21-point, 8-rebound performance in a regular-season victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Waters briefly became a starter in November following De'Anthony Melton's season-ending injury, but his effectiveness declined as he shot only 33.1% from three-point range during his Warriors tenure. After 38 games (nine starts), he was traded to the Detroit Pistons in February as part of the Jimmy Butler blockbuster deal. In Detroit, Waters averaged 8.8 minutes over 14 regular-season games but received no playing time during their six-game playoff loss to the New York Knicks.

Despite joining a Spurs roster crowded with young guard talent, Waters may find an opportunity to revive his career by addressing San Antonio's need for outside shooting. The 27-year-old enters this new chapter after an inconsistent NBA journey highlighted by early flashes of potential but ultimately marked by uneven performance and limited postseason involvement.