Steve Kerr shares honest thoughts on 'trust' in $37,756,096 Klay Thompson replacement 

Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors lost Klay Thompson in free agency. However, after getting his $43.2 million salary off the books, they explored other avenues and immediately turned to another sharpshooter, Buddy Hield, to fill the big void. A cheaper alternative, Hield agreed to a four-year $37.7 million deal, of which $21 million was guaranteed at signing.

The former Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers guard got off to a sizzling start in the Bay Area. Hield shot 44.2% from 3, averaging 15.3 points per game in his first 19 appearances. The Warriors were 12-7 until that point. However, as Hield's hot start cooled off, so did the Warriors.

Since December, Hield has averaged a measly 9.5 ppg, shooting 36.2%, including 30.5% from 3. In Monday's 104-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors, which put the Warriors under .500 (19-20), Hield missed the game-tying shot from 3 amid his woeful run.

However, Steve Kerr remains confident and trusts in Buddy Hield's abilities. The four-time championship-winning coach said after the loss (via Warriors' beat writer Anthony Slater):

"I trust him. I put him in the last play because I believe he's always gonna make the next shot. He gives us spacing, even when he's not making shots ... People respect him, they guard him and he opens up the floor. I'm gonna keep playing him, I'm gonna keep trusting him."

The Warriors haven't had significant output from not just Hield but almost all the other role players. Apart from Steph Curry, who is averaging 22.9 ppg since December, only Jonathan Kuminga has contributed 20+ ppg (20.4). The Warriors have slumped to 21st offensively with a 110.9 rating, 15th in 3-point shooting after making 36.2% of their shots from deep.

Steve Kerr must figure out the Buddy Hield situation

The Warriors need more output collectively. It's not coming from several players, but Buddy Hield's slump, in particular, has been a problem. It was his high-level production that bolstered the Warriors to a 12-3 start before they went into a downward spiral, winning only seven games in 17 outings since.

However, Steve Kerr hasn't done much to adjust Hield's minutes. The Warriors have other options, especially with Moses Moody, who can mesh well with the starting lineup in the injured Jonathan Kuminga's absence.

While Hield has played 23.5 minutes on the year, Moody has earned only 16.1 minutes of action. In his limited game time, Moody is averaging 7.8 ppg, shooting 38.0% from 3. He's a bigger player and a better defender than Hield, who has started the past few games despite his slump.

Until the Warriors look for reinforcements, it seems like Steve Kerr's only option to right the ship is to offer Moses Moody more opportunities, especially with Kuminga and Podziemski out.