76ers Rumors: Shake Milton Expected to Have $2M Contract Option Exercised
June 15, 2022
The Philadelphia 76ers are "expected" to exercise Shake Milton's $2 million team option for the 2022-23 season, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Earlier Wednesday, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Sixers were "gauging teams' interest" in several of their players ahead of the offseason, with Milton being one of the players listed as a potential trade chip alongside Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Danny Green and the No. 23 overall pick in June's draft.
Milton, 25, had an up-and-down 2021-22 season, averaging 8.2 points and 2.5 assists in 55 regular-season games, largely off the bench, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field but just 32.3 percent from three.
An ankle injury, a bout with COVID-19 and a back contusion cost him significant time during the regular season and seemed to keep him from finding much of a rhythm as the team's third guard behind Tyrese Maxey and Seth Curry initially and then Maxey and James Harden after the latter player was acquired in February.
Though he averaged just five points per game in the postseason (13.2 MPG in 12 contests), it was a much more efficient showing for Milton, who shot 47.4 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three.
For a Sixers team that got very little from its bench in the playoffs, Milton offered a decent option for head coach Doc Rivers in the rotation. And at $2 million this season, he's a relatively cheap depth player for Philly.
That said, the Sixers appear willing to shake things up around superstar Joel Embiid and the backcourt duo of Harden and Maxey after the team yet again failed to advance past the second round. The team could use a boost in athleticism, needs to improve on the wings and desperately needs more depth.
Though Harris and Thybulle will likely be the two main names bandied about in trade rumors, Milton could easily be packaged in a deal as well. At his price point, however, the Sixers likely will be just as happy keeping him as a backup option.