Philadelphia 76ers: Shake Milton is guard the team is searching for

There are a lot of potential guards floating around on the trading block, but two specifically have garnered more attention than others in Philadelphia: Oklahoma City’s George Hill and Detroit’s Delon Wright. Both are serviceable, veteran players currently playing for teams among the worst in their respective Conferences. Hill and Wright can absolutely upgrade a contending team’s bench roster, however I do not believe the Philadelphia 76ers are that team. The Sixers need to give more respect to Shake Milton.

First, and most importantly, both players are relatively expensive, when compared to Milton. He is in the second year of a three-year, $5 million dollar contract and the Sixers have a club option after the third year. Wright and Hill on the other hand are in their second years of almost identical contacts running three years for roughly $28 million.

Secondly, Morey was quoted on the Mike Missanelli show as saying that any trades that happen will not be to upgrade deeper positions on the bench, meaning if a trade is happening it will be for a piece that will undoubtedly play postseason minutes. I am not sure Hill or Wright would fit that description. Now you may wonder if Shake will even play in the postseason, but that is missing the point.

The Philadelphia 76ers have made it known they are searching for a backup point guard at the trade deadline or in the buyout market. However, the guard they are seeking is already on the roster: Shake Milton.

In the postseason defensive effort increases and the bench players that get minutes need to be able to score. Shake, although only averaging two more points per game than Hill and three more than Wright, is a walking bucket and has the ability to go off in every game he plays. Shake has surpassed 24 points in four games this year, including a 31-point outbreak against the Miami Heat early in the season. Wright and Hill have only combined for one game of 24+ points this season; that game came when Wright played out of his mind against the 76ers and registered a career-high 28 points.

Shake is a shoot first point guard, something that is required when potentially sharing the court with Ben Simmons. He is a young, aggressive, inexpensive guard that deserves more respect than he is getting. The Sixers do not need to go bargain hunting at the trade deadline or buyout market to attempt to upgrade the backup point guard position; they are more than capable to make it through the Eastern Conference with Shake Milton in that role.

If the name Kyle Lowry comes up, an obvious starter in the 76ers’ lineup, then we can talk guard trades.