Buddy Hield is heading into the 2026-27 season in a tough spot, and the problem is bigger than just a crowded depth chart.
The former 76ers guard’s slide last year already pushed him out of Golden State’s normal rotation before the Warriors moved him to the Hawks ahead of the deadline. From there, things only got worse. He ended up as a benchwarmer, and that is not the kind of finish that helps a veteran rebuild momentum.
Now Atlanta is looking at a player who is difficult to fit and even harder to move. Hield is due to make around $9.6 million next season, and his deal doesn’t stop there.
It runs through the 2027-28 campaign, when he will have a player option worth $10.1 million that he is surely going to exercise. For the Hawks, that makes him look like empty baggage.
Quin Snyder did not have Hield in the rotation last season, and there is little reason to expect that to change. Atlanta has plenty of backcourt options, and Hield’s three-point shooting struggles from the previous campaign only make the path back to regular minutes look even narrower.
That leaves the Hawks with one obvious goal: try to trade him. But that is no sure thing. There may not be many teams willing to take on a contract that is still not expiring, which puts Hield in a fragile spot heading into the year.
If Atlanta can’t find a trade partner, a buyout would not be out of the question. Either way, the veteran is staring at a season where trade rumors could hang over him, while the Hawks have little practical use for him as things stand.
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Nurses challenge now is not simply finding talent, but fitting it into a rotation that can survive the long regular season and still make sense when the games tighten up. Simons is back from a wrist injury and eager to help stabilize things, while Philon flashed enough in summer league to at least put himself in the conversation for minutes. The real question is how quickly Nurse can settle on the right combinations, because the Sixers bench makeover only matters if it leads to a group he trusts when the postseason pressure arrives. [Read more 🡒]
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Clint Capela has emerged as a possible name to watch if the Sixers decide to keep searching. Entering his 13th NBA season and under contract through 2028, the veteran center is reportedly available in trade discussions because his role with the Rockets has diminished. For Philadelphia, the appeal is obvious: a seasoned big man who could ease the burden on Embiid, even if any move would still require the front office to sort through the price and the fit. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Face A Crunch-Time Dilemma Nick Nurse Must Solve
The 76ers are heading toward next season with a problem most teams would welcome: too many late-game options. Projected to have LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe all in the mix, Nick Nurse could be looking at a lineup loaded with players who want the ball when possessions tighten and every trip matters.
That kind of depth brings obvious scoring punch, but it also raises a difficult question about hierarchy when the game is on the line. Nurse will have to decide whether Philadelphia leans on one established closer or rotates the responsibility based on matchups, rhythm and who has it going that night, a choice that could shape how this group handles the biggest moments all season. [Read more 🡒]