Crystal Pouncey
Feb 08, 2024 - 06:05

Sixers acquire guard Hield from Pacers: Sources

NBA's 76ers acquire sharpshooter Hield to boost 3-point game, making moves to fortify roster and potentially eyeing future Hall of Famer.

Buddy Hield, at 31 years old, has established himself as one of the most elite 3-point shooters in the NBA. Throughout this season with the Indiana Pacers, he maintained an average of 12 points per game with an impressive 38.4% shooting accuracy from behind the arc in 52 games. Since entering the NBA in the 2016-17 season, Hield has made a remarkable 1,842 career 3-pointers, second only to Stephen Curry.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been struggling in the 3-point department, ranking in the bottom five in the NBA for both 3-point attempts and makes. Hield's addition to the team comes at a crucial time, especially with key players like Joel Embiid dealing with injuries. The hope is that Hield will be the first of several moves made by Philadelphia to strengthen the roster for the upcoming stretch run, which may see the return of Embiid following a recent knee procedure.

In addition to acquiring Hield, the 76ers also made a trade, sending Danuel House Jr. to the Detroit Pistons along with a 2024 second-round pick. This move not only allowed Philadelphia to position itself below the luxury tax line but also opened up multiple roster spots for potential buyout candidates. One such candidate is Kyle Lowry, a future Hall of Famer currently with the Charlotte Hornets after a recent trade from the Miami Heat.

It's important to note that Hield is on an expiring contract, giving Philadelphia the flexibility to maintain salary cap space for future moves while also having the option to retain him in free agency.

As part of these transactions, the 76ers also said goodbye to players like Markieff Morris, who arrived in the James Harden trade earlier this year, and Furkan Korkmaz, who has spent his entire seven-year career in Philadelphia. Morris averaged 6.7 points in 37 games this season, while Korkmaz maintained an average of 6.8 points across 328 career games.