2. Buddy Hield’s rental act for the 76ers will remain as is
Buddy Hield was one of the best players on the court for the 76ers last night, posting 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from rainbow country in just 21 minutes. While impressive in a vacuum, your jaw will probably drop at the fact that his scoring output in Game 6 constituted nearly 91 percent of his total markers in the playoffs. For his career.
The sad news is, Hield’s one-game wonder last night is far from enough as an audition piece for a reward contract from the front office, though it probably shouldn’t linger for him. He’s still one of the most potent volume three-point shooters in the league, and his skill set will have no shortage of suitors.
Unfortunately, Philly has to shoot for a complete overhaul next season, especially on the margins. That includes going after non-one dimensional players who are prone to benching when their tricks run out of juice. Thus, the team’s rental for Hield during the trade deadline will probably stay as initially billed — a quarter-season rental. Oh, and alternatives are present.