Sixers rumors: Is the Buddy Hield buzz real?

The Philadelphia 76ers and Buddy Hield have been connected… sorta.

The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue trade options this summer. Buddy Hield has been a name of particular interest. He’s one of the best shooters in basketball, he’s ostensibly unhappy in his current situation, and best of all, he plays for the Kings — not exactly known for savvy personnel decisions.

If any franchise will cough up a useful and affordable swap for Al Horford, it’s Sacramento. So, it comes as no surprise that the Sixers have already been connected to Hield in the rumor mill. It is, to be clear, just the rumor mill. Nothing more.

Here’s an Instagram post that properly summates the buzz around Hield and Philadelphia.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFfJuE5lxFP/

First and foremost, @LegionHoopsRoss is not Adrian Wojnarowski or Shams Charania. While you should not write off the “report” entirely, it’s also not something to read into. What is worth reading into, however, is who liked that particular Instagram log: Buddy Hield.

Rarely does social media activity belie actual discontent in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example, unfollowed his entire team on Instagram. He also recommitted himself to Milwaukee’s championship pursuit next season.

With that said, social media does sometimes serve as a beacon of unhappiness. Just look at Eric Bledsoe, whose infamously casual “I Dont wanna be here” got him traded from Phoenix to Milwaukee a few years back. Most players don’t go around liking tweets about joining other teams. Especially not the season after signing an extension.

All signs point to Hield wanting out of Sacramento. If the Kings choose to oblige, the Sixers should obviously consider an offer. The Kings were ardent suitors of Al Horford in free agency last summer, and while Hield doesn’t fix all of Philadelphia’s issues, he does help. A lot.

Hield is not only a gifted shooter, but he can also create off the dribble. He can prop up the halfcourt offense late in games. His fit next to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid goes without saying. His gravity would open up driving lanes, and vice versa. Embiid and Simmons would create plenty of clean looks for Hield.

In his fourth NBA season, Hield averaged 19.2 points and 3.0 assists in 30.8 minutes. He started 44 of 72 appearances for Sacramento and hit 39.4 percent of his career-high 9.6 attempts per game from deep. Not a perfect season by any measure, but when the alternative is Al Horford, you can’t get too picky.