The Philadelphia 76ers gave their seasoned guard Shake Milton permission to hit the free agency trail after the 2022–2023 NBA season in an attempt to start over.
Milton discovered that first, yet he ends himself back on the free agency market.
The Detroit Pistons and Milton came to a buyout agreement on Friday night. Weeks after the Pistons traded for Milton from the Minnesota Timberwolves, an agreement has been reached.
The Sixers were interested in obtaining the 54th overall pick, so they swapped Milton’s rights after he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft. Milton’s career began with a two-way contract with Philadelphia. He eventually received an offer for a typical contract.
Playing in the G League was Milton’s main experience during his debut season in Philadelphia. Milton’s most brilliant period of his career came in his sophomore year, which enabled him to start a career-high 24 games.
Milton averaged 23 minutes per game on the court while playing a six-man role for Philadelphia the next season. In addition to scoring 13 points and dishing out three assists a game, he made 35% of his shots from beyond the arc.
Shake Milton experienced a gradual decline in playing time with head coach of the old 76ers, Doc Rivers. Despite playing in a career-high 76 games the previous season, Milton’s role was erratic throughout the regular season. He averaged less than four minutes per game in his six outings before the Sixers made it to the playoffs.
Milton had been anticipating a new beginning with the Minnesota Timberwolves throughout the summer. Sadly, nothing proceeded according to plan. Milton played just 13 minutes on the court in 38 games. The Wolves moved Milton to Detroit prior to the trade deadline.
The Pistons’ timeframe didn’t match Milton’s because they are currently rebuilding. The former Sixer played 16 minutes a night on average during his first four games with the Pistons, but he was benched four games in a row after that. Milton was given the chance to look for a postseason contender after Friday’s game in Detroit.
Although it’s unknown whether teams are interested in Milton, he seems like a promising addition for a team looking for a seasoned combo guard.
The Sixers might have thought about getting back together with the former SMU star if his buyout had happened weeks earlier. After a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets, the Sixers acquired Kyle Lowry, satisfying their urgent need for an experienced guard.
Milton doesn’t need to move quickly to get to his next location. The 27-year-old is qualified for the playoffs after missing the deadline. He can therefore take his time in selecting his next squad.
