2016 NBA Draft: Analyzing a Philadelphia 76ers need at Shooting Guard
By Jay Siskin
The Philadelphia 76ers have a need at shooting guard. The Oklahoma Sooners have a good one in 6’4″ shooting guard Buddy Hield
The Philadelphia 76ers have a significant need at the shooting guard position. My fellow colleague and friend Bret Stuter wrote about the significant need at the two-guard position this Sixers desperately needs. The Sixers traded for the second year player in Nik Stauskas, but unfortunately that has not panned out very well this season. The need is clear. The Sixers are 23rd in the league in shooting guard scoring (17.6). The Houston Rockets are first at 33.1 per game.
The 2016 NBA draft is in exactly 136 days from now, so what options do the Sixers have when it comes to drafting a shooting guard?
The answer is Oklahoma Sooner, Buddy Hield.
Hield just might be the best shooting guard in the country. Heck, he could’ve been the best player in the country if someone named Ben Simmons was still in high school. So what makes Hield a good fit for the Sixers?
At 6’4″ and 214, Hield has the size to be a successful NBA shooting guard. He’s a hard worker with an NBA physique. Hield has a great amount of athleticism and possess a 6-foot-9 wingspan, which is greater than most shooting guards. He can rebound and has very strong hands.
| Season | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 2P% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | STL | PTS ▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 34.4 | 8.2 | 16.1 | .510 | .525 | 4.2 | 8.5 | .498 | 5.0 | 5.5 | .902 | 1.3 | 25.6 |
| 2014-15 | 32.4 | 5.9 | 14.2 | .412 | .469 | 2.7 | 7.4 | .359 | 3.1 | 3.7 | .823 | 1.3 | 17.4 |
| 2013-14 | 32.1 | 5.9 | 13.3 | .445 | .512 | 2.7 | 7.1 | .386 | 1.9 | 2.5 | .750 | 1.4 | 16.5 |
| 2012-13 | 25.1 | 3.0 | 7.7 | .388 | .481 | 0.7 | 3.0 | .238 | 1.1 | 1.3 | .833 | 1.2 | 7.8 |
| Career | 31.1 | 5.7 | 12.9 | .443 | .496 | 2.5 | 6.5 | .391 | 2.7 | 3.2 | .836 | 1.3 | 16.6 |
Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CBB: View Original Table
Generated 2/15/2016.
NBA scouts from around the league are in love with Hield’s ability to score in different aspects. They also love the fact that he’s improved in every season as a Sooner (see the table above).
As a freshman, Hield ended the season shooting just 24 percent from beyond the arc. It’s incredible that he has more than doubled that during his season year. Hield’s work ethic is noticeable and phenomenal, which is something this Sixers team needs. A player on the Sixers with a work ethic like Hield’s would rub off on the other players. I know the downfall with Hield is that he’s 22-years-old
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Hield is excellent in the pick-and-roll, and has become tremendously skilled in isolation situations with his ability to take smaller defenders to the rim from beyond the three point line. Hield is also an excellent passer that can use both hands to deliver a pass on a dime. He’s not afraid to bully drive into someone, and that will help take advantage of cross-matches with point guards in the NBA.
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On defense, Hield is a top-notch defender when he’s locked in on his man. He possesses tremendous lateral quickness, a decent wingspan, and he’s strong enough to keep his man from pushing him out of the way with a shoulder in most isolation situations. Hield is excellent at hounding ball-handlers all the way out to midcourt and has the potential to be an above-average perimeter stopper in the NBA, which is something the Sixers need.
At age 22, his age is the biggest handicapper. Because of his age his ceiling is probably just outside the lottery. The Sixers have a chance to trade back to get Hield if a player they want in the top-5 is already off the board.