Why the 76ers should steer clear from trading for Buddy Hield
Perhaps the biggest throw-off from this proposed trade is the fact that the 76ers are giving up six assets to get just two. Buddy Hield may be valuable and sought-after, but giving up three players and three future second-round selections may be an arbitrary discarding of potentially useful sweeteners for a bigger trade later on.
Speaking of three second-rounders, unfortunately, the 76ers front office must resort to such an offer due to recent precedence (ahem, Luke Kennard trade) and the reality that the must stand out from an expectedly robust pool of suitors for Hield, which are all rival contenders.
In that regard, the deal even becomes bleaker when considering the fact that Hield will likely be only a one-year rental anyway. Unless the sharpshooter faces a dearth of suitors in next year’s free agency — which is unlikely due to his skill set and more teams having substantial spending power — the 76ers are a long shot to re-sign him due to their commitment to Tyrese Maxey’s extension and other reportedly grandiose plans.
On the actual basketball part, Hield may also just add to an embarrassment of riches that Philadelphia already touts on its backcourt while not really filling an obvious need. Accounting for Harden’s impending exit, the team badly needs a reliable playmaker and shot-creator — Hield has never been a table-setter and is only a tertiary creator at best.
Ultimately, should the Philadelphia 76ers want to double down on making the most out of this season notwithstanding what happens with James Harden, the front office should do more than just its due diligence and make a legitimate bid for Buddy Hield. After all, as what this proposal conjectures, the team stands to gain more compared to what it will be giving up anyway.
Grade: A