The NBA trade deadline has been slow-moving with under five hours left before the market slams shut. The Philadelphia 76ers have made the first major move of the day, acquiring Indiana Pacers’ sharpshooter Buddy Hield for a package around Marcus Morris Sr., Furkan Korkmaz, and three second-round picks.
“The Indiana Pacers are trading Buddy Hield to the 76ers for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.”
The Indiana Pacers are trading Buddy Hield to the 76ers for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
Hield is averaging 12.0 points this season, shooting 38.4% from three-point range on 6.9 attempts per game. Hield has been one of the most coveted shooters in the NBA for the last few years, with various teams expressing interest in him over the years. He will now hope to make the first playoff appearance of his career with the 76ers, as he’s the longest-tenured NBA player to have never played in the postseason.
Marcus Morris Sr. arrived in Philadelphia earlier this season as a part of the James Harden trade. The veteran forward has averaged 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds this season. He’s unlikely to be a major contributor for the Pacers this season but is a strong playoff veteran to have on the roster as they look to return to the postseason this year.
Korkmaz has been disgruntled in Philadelphia for over two seasons now, with this deal marking the end of a long trade saga for him. He was averaging 2.5 points this season.
The 76ers Add A Scoring Threat In Joel Embiid’s Absence
The Philadelphia 76ers will be looking to stay active throughout the deadline to bolster their roster with the looming absence of Joel Embiid. Embiid suffered a meniscus injury and is reportedly going to be re-evaluated in four weeks, with no promises on if he’ll even return in the regular season. Hield is an important addition as one of the best shooters in the NBA, though he has had a rough year so far.
The better explanation for why this was a target the 76ers were after comes with the contract Hield is on. This is the final year of his contract, which means $18.5 million will come off the books for Philadelphia. They’ve been trying to maintain cap flexibility for the summer to be players in free agency and re-sign Tyrese Maxey. If Hield is a long-term option for them, they’ll hope to get him for much cheaper with the promise of a contending team.
Overall, this wasn’t a trade that either team can say they won or lost. Morris and Hield are both expiring contract, though Hield’s value as a shooter generated second-round picks for the 76ers. They likely forked the picks out also because Korkmaz has another year on his contract, adding more flexibility for Philly this summer.
Hield will be an excellent option for a 76ers team where defensive attention revolves around Joel Embiid in the post. However, with no Embiid, the true value of this trade may take a while to show.
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