According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Philadelphia 76ers targeted Bojan Bogdanovic at the trade deadline.
The Detroit Pistons traded Bogdanovic to the New York Knicks, while the Sixers acquired Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers.
“For that, Philadelphia was targeting an archetype of dynamic shooters, including Bojan Bogdanović (who ended up with the Knicks), according to league sources, and Hield wasn’t exactly surprised when he woke to a call Thursday morning of the deadline informing him the Sixers were his latest destination,” Fischer wrote. “Hield hopped on a plane, found his way to the practice court and has been launching ever since, drilling 42.2% of 8.2 long-range attempts per game, relishing the greater stakes he’s now being afforded with Philly’s ultimate barometer.”
Hield is averaging 15.5 points while shooting 44.0% from the field and 42.2% from beyond the arc with the Sixers.
Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is averaging 14.7 points while shooting 41.7% overall and 36.7% from 3 with the Knicks.
The Sixers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 35-26. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
“It really worked out,” Hield said about the Pacers-Sixers trade. “I know that the void they were missing was shooting. We just need to figure out how to play together and weather the storm until Joel gets back.”
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid has started on-court workouts as he makes his way back from knee surgery. Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee to address a meniscus injury. The superstar was diagnosed with a displaced flap of his meniscus.
Embiid is averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks this season while shooting 53.3% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 88.3% from the free-throw line. He has 27 double-doubles and two triple-doubles in 34 games.
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