Former 76ers Guard Lands on Buyout Market

Following the 2022-2023 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers allowed their veteran guard Shake Milton to enter the free agency market and search for a fresh start.

While Milton found at that first, he once again lands on the free agency market.

On Friday night, the Detroit Pistons reached a buyout with Milton. The agreement comes weeks after the Pistons acquired Milton via trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

From Philly to Free Agency

When Milton was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018, his rights were flipped to the Sixers, who were interested in selecting the 54th overall pick for themselves. Initially, Milton started his career on a two-way deal with Philadelphia. Eventually, he was offered a standard contract.

Milton’s rookie season in Philly was primarily spent playing in the G League. By his sophomore effort, Milton put together the most impressive stretch of his career, which allowed him to start for a career-high 24 games.

In the following season, Milton garnered a six-man role for Philadelphia, averaging 23 minutes on the court. He produced 13 points and three assists per game while draining 35 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

Under former 76ers head coach Doc Rivers, Shake Milton saw his playing time decrease over time. While he appeared in a career-high 76 games last season, Milton had an inconsistent role during the regular season. By the time the Sixers reached the playoffs, he was out of the rotation, averaging under four minutes on the court in six appearances.

Over the summer, Milton looked forward to getting a fresh start with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Unfortunately, nothing went as planned. In 38 games, Milton saw the court for just 13 minutes per outing. Ahead of the trade deadline, the Wolves traded Milton to Detroit.

Being that the Pistons are in a rebuilding phase, their timeline didn’t align with Milton’s. While the former Sixer averaged 16 minutes on the court for his first four games with the Pistons, he followed that initial stretch with four straight DNPs. Following Friday’s game in Detroit, Milton was given the opportunity to search for a playoff contender.

What’s Next?

It’s unclear which teams are interested in Milton, but he’s an intriguing prospect for a team in search of an experienced combo guard.

Had his buyout occurred weeks ago, a reunion with the former SMU standout might’ve been something the Sixers would consider. By scooping up Kyle Lowry after a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets, the Sixers filled their immediate need for a veteran guard.

Milton doesn’t have to rush to find his next destination. By beating the deadline, the 27-year-old is playoff-eligible. Therefore, he can take some time to find his next team.