Trade Suggestion Includes 76ers Picking up Buddy Hield From Kings

A new trade package suggestion from Bleacher Report includes the Philadelphia 76ers snagging Buddy Hield from the Kings.

Justin Grasso | Sep 18, 2020

It's hypothetical trade season in the NBA, and Bleacher Report has been quite busy including the Philadelphia 76ers in a handful of potential trade scenarios so far this offseason. As we know, the Sixers were rumored to have considered trading for Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul this season -- but should they look to the Sacramento Kings for a possible trade to acquire Buddy Hield?

BR's Zach Buckley explored the idea this week. In the hypothetical trade package, Buckley has the Sixers sending veteran big man Al Horford to the Kings for Hield. Since the Kings more than likely will need more than just swapping a player for a player, Philly would also be sending the No. 34 pick and No. 36 pick for the upcoming draft.

"How does that old saying about one team's financial trash becoming another's basketball treasure go?"

"Hield is almost the ideal addition for Philly. The Sixers desperately need shooting, and he offers more of it than just about anyone. He has the sixth-most triples since entering the Association in 2016, and his 41.1 percent conversion rate ranks 14th-best among the 298 players with 100-plus threes over this stretch."

Philly's worst-kept secret in 2019-2020 was that they needed shooters to complement their two superstars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Without reliable shooting, the fit between the two All-Stars is awkward as their lack of shooting doesn't help with spacing. Hield wouldn't be an end-all, be-all solution for the Sixers' problems, but he would be a massive upgrade to the squad.

Trading Al Horford will be a tall task for the Sixers, but it's worth noting the Kings had an interest in the veteran big man just last offseason. As long as Sacramento believes Horford still has gas left in the tank despite what they've seen from Horford's lone season on the Sixers, then a deal could be possible.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on Twitter: @JGrasso_

Published Sep 18, 2020

JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA