76ers make first move of trade deadline day, acquire Buddy Hield

Hield's arrival will seriously upgrade the Sixers' perimeter-based offense. They are currently ranked 19th in the NBA for three-point percentage and 26th for attempted threes per game. Hield is averaging 12 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season, shooting 44.3% from the field and 38.4% from three-point range. That above-average perimeter shooting has likely enticed the Sixers into pursuing this deal. 

The movement shooting that Hield brings will ensure there's high-level floor spacing whenever he's on the court. That spacing will benefit the team's top three players, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, who are all valuable contributors around the rim and in the mid-range. 

However, Hield's defense will be an area that head coach Nick Nurse needs to address. Despite being one of the better shooters in the league, Hield often struggles to hold his ground on the other side of the floor. Fortunately for Philadelphia, it has the 12th-ranked defensive in the NBA, so it should have the talent to hide Hield when he's on the court. 

Interestingly, Hield is in the final year of his contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. As such, the Sixers have options available to them. If he plays well and improves the team, they can look to tie him down to a longer-term deal in the summer. Yet, if the fit isn't right, he can walk away in free agency, and the franchise sheds almost $20M in cap space. 

Overall, Daryl Morey has made a low-risk, high-reward move. Hield has a skill that's been missing from the Sixers rotation this season. His contract situation ensures there's no huge risk to the deal. And the price to acquire him wasn't high enough that it would be deemed bad business if he walked away during the summer. Now, all we can do is wait and see if the Sixers have any more moves lined up or if they choose to stand pat for the remainder of the trade deadline.