Former sharpshooter making the 76ers regret ditching him

The Philadelphia 76ers' start has been problematic. Joel Embiid and Paul George missed the first five games of the season and already announced a plan to sit back-to-backs. PG13’s first contest with the Sixers was not ideal, and Embiid was just suspended for three games.

Philadelphia must right the ship quickly to be a serious title contender. They are 14th in the Eastern Conference on the morning of Nov. 6 and luckily only two games back of a guaranteed playoff spot. The 76ers cannot let that gap get too wide or it could mean an early playoff matchup against the defending champion Celtics.

Philly is 26th in offensive rating, 23rd in points scored, and 25th in 3-point percentage to begin this season. They have struggled to score without their two stars, but the franchise knew they would miss games. A hot start in the Bay Area has certainly left the Sixers with some regrets about letting this wing walk in free agency.

Buddy Hield’s blazing start has the 76ers wishing they kept him

The Golden State Warriors won six of their first seven games behind an outstanding start from Hield. The 6’4 wing is averaging 21.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 25.7 minutes per game. He is shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 50.0 percent on his threes. Hield leads the Warriors in scoring and is top five in the NBA in win shares per 48 minutes and value over replacement player (VORP).

The Dubs have played to his strengths. They are using Buddy as a movement shooter and letting him wreak havoc. Hield is a career 40.2 percent 3-point marksman with a unique ability to make shots. Golden State is leaning into those strengths.

The Sixers traded Furkan Korkmaz, Marcus Morris Sr., and three second-round draft picks to get Hield at the 2024 trade deadline. He struggled to find his fit with the Sixers and had issues in the playoffs until Game 6 of their first-round series loss to the Knicks. Hield is an elite shooter, and the 76ers needed more time to fully integrate his skill set.

Kyle Lowry, Guerschon Yabusele, and Eric Gordon are the only Sixers shooting over 35 percent from 3-point range on multiple attempts after six games. Philadelphia needs someone to space the floor and would love another option to run a play for.

Hield offers that skill set, but the 76ers let him walk as they looked to build out their roster around Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. The 76ers gave K.J. Martin almost as much money as Hield got from the Warriors in a decision they likely regret mightily after the first two weeks of the season.

Golden State is the perfect fit for Buddy Hield. Expect him to keep producing monster numbers, and the Philadelphia 76ers are stuck watching enviously as they struggle to get and keep their Big 3 healthy. Fans hope for a turnaround, but there are zero guarantees. Hield is happy in the Bay Area, and the Sixers have the potential to be elite. Stay tuned to see if they can maximize their talent.