The [76ers](https://www.libertyballers.com) are on their second consecutive multi-game winning streak after defeating the Chicago Bulls 108-100 on Sunday. With the first part of the 2024-25 season wrapping up, the what-ifs are starting to circulate, and one is whether or not the Sixers should have kept Buddy Hield.
Hield played with the Sixers for 32 games during the 2023-24 season. While in Philadelphia, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 38.9 percent from three.
Critics, analysts and some fans would argue that the 76ers did the right thing in completing a sign-and-trade that sent the 31-year-old guard to the [Golden State Warriors](https://www.goldenstateofmind.com). However, the Sixers could be second-guessing the move after starting off with a 7-15 record.
The Golden State guard is a streaky offensive talent but he can slide into the starting lineup or give you a punch of the bench. Philadelphia should have kept him because of his ability to space the floor and his well-rounded game.
Keeping Hield should have been a priority on the Sixers to-do list because he is an easy player to gauge.
At the end of the 2023-24 regular season, Philadelphia shot a solid 36.3 percent from downtown, which was 18th in the league. This season, the franchise is 28th in the league for three-point percentage shooting a lousy 32.1 percent.
Ultimately, Hield is not solely responsible for the shooting percentage during his time in the City of Brotherly Love. Needless to say, he fit into an offense that had several shooting wings, a dominant big man with injury concerns, and an upcoming star guard.
The Sixers should have kept Hield because of his ability to assist with floor spacing. Right now, the team’s Big 3 is struggling from three-point range which is not the end of the world.
On the flip side, Philadelphia should have kept the Warriors’ guard because he can take the double-teams away from Joel Embiid and create mismatches off the pick-and-roll.
Embiid is going to draw double-teams no matter who he faces but having a shooting threat like Hield forces teams to pick and choose when to send a double-team. Shooting would help this team have more opportunities for points in the paint.
The triangle offense may be extinct (for now) but the 6-foot-4 guard would help this team with floor positioning and ball movement. Often, Embiid, George or Maxey can over-dribble or not run through their progression quickly causing a kick-out to a role player which results in a forced shot.
Hield can catch and shoot or create his own offense, which is needed. In Golden State, he is moving without the basketball, running around screens or running the break. The ball may not move as much in Philadelphia, but he could get quick looks by moving without the basketball.
Philadelphia should have kept Hield because of his well-rounded approach to the game. He can impact the game by his ability to finish at the rim or draw contact. Coupled with his slashing abilities, he shoots 92.3 percent from the charity stripe.
As of now, the 76ers are shooting 77.3 percent from the free-throw line, which is 22nd in the league. If the organization still had Hield on the roster, he would help their percentage slightly but overall he would provide this team with more offensive opportunities.
Buddy’s strength is his shooting but his ability to help his team even when he is struggling to score helps him stand out. He is a solid teammate and does a great job of helping others get involved by his ability to understand his role.
Maxey hasn’t shot the three-ball relatively well this year (due to injury and role expansion) but his ability to drive would allow Hield to play off the ball to catch and shoot or cut to the rim.
Right now the Oklahoma product is averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor. As mentioned, he doesn’t need his number called to contribute and he has only started three games this season.
The eight-year veteran would help the Sixers by adding a guard who can rebound to help the frontcourt. His passing is underrated when he is looking to get others involved and he would provide this team with effort and consistent scoring.
For November, the former Indiana Pacer only scored under 10 points four times. This is significant in comparison to the role players in Philadelphia who have struggled in the earlier portion of the season.