Confirming multiple reports that have surfaced since the team was eliminated from the postseason on Sunday, Sixers general manager Elton Brand said today that there are no plans to shake up the roster by moving either Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons this offseason.
“I’m not looking to trade Ben or Joel,” Brand said, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link). “I’m looking to complement them better.”
While the 76ers have faced questions about how to maximize the Embiid/Simmons duo on the offensive end of the court, the team sounds committed to giving its next head coach a chance to solve that puzzle. As Brand suggests, finding the right complementary pieces to share the floor with the two All-Stars will be part of the equation too.
In his comments to reporters today, Brand also spoke in general terms about changes that might be coming to Philadelphia’s front office. Following the departure of former head of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo in 2018, the Sixers’ front office took a collaborative approach to decision-making, but Brand said on Tuesday that “we feel the collaboration days didn’t work” (Twitter link via Bontemps).
Brand, who is expected to retain decision-making control in the front office, added that he’ll be leading the coaching search and will present his choice to ownership. He also addressed what sort of executives the club may be looking to add to its basketball operations department, as Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets.
“We’re strong in the strategic and analytic standpoint,” Brand said. “Get some more basketball minds in here. But all options are open.”
Here’s more on the Sixers:
- Some of the executives and coaches who spoke to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype about the Sixers believe that trading either Embiid or Simmons might be the right move for the franchise. One Eastern Conference GM said he’d trade Embiid because it’s easier to build a roster around Simmons, but multiple executives suggested that Simmons’ shooting woes would make him the more logical trade candidate. Of the respondents who made the case for keeping both players, most argued that it would be difficult to get fair value for either one in a trade, Scotto writes.
- Noting that managing the Sixers’ stars will be the primary challenge facing the team’s new head coach, Rich Hofmann of The Athletic weighs the pros and cons of Tyronn Lue, Jay Wright, Ime Udoka, and Dave Joerger, four candidates who have been linked to the position so far.
- The timing of the Knicks‘ head coaching search allowed them to secure Tom Thibodeau before other teams got a chance to pursue him, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who hears from a source that the Sixers held some appeal to Thibodeau (Twitter link).
Why would he? The 76ers are trying building championship team with them guys. Maybe they should consider releasing Eton Brand of his duties and hire a better general manager that knows how to build a championship win team
They are in a tight spot if they don’t plan on trading either of those two guys. It really only leaves them Richardson, Horford, Scott, and Smith to package in a trade.
I would like to see what a new coach can do. Brett tried to make things work with his system. His major flaw was his unwillingness to adjust his system to the roster he had. Even when he finally “moved” Ben to power forward, they ran the exact same offense and Ben was still playing the same role. These two can succeed together, they’ve won in the past. They went down hill because they went all in on Jimmy butler and Tobi, then they missed on FA and built around bigs. Problem 1: Brett not adjusting his scheme once the roster changed. Problem 2: Elton brand’s decision making and roster construction. Problem 3: the nba performing a hostile takeover of the Sixers and putting the colangelo’s in charge. Sam Hinkie built a treasure trove of assets and talented players to see it flushed down the toilet in under 3 years
Well said. You can also throw in Brown’s use of the bench players. His substitution selections were pretty poor; he would never let a hot hand off the bench get long stretches of play.
Eventually, the players lost respect for him as the head coach, which became abundantly clear when Embiid refused to come out of the last game when he was clearly gassed and hurting the team.
Trade Horford and 4 future Firsts for an all star such as Beal，DLo or LaMelo Ball package
When did LaMelo Ball become an All Star?
Elton Brand is so in over his head and that’s being kind.
Not sure why they hired him in the first place. What were his credentials?
Except he’s drafted quite well. In regards to FA and trades, yes he hasn’t exactly been shrewd. But we don’t know exactly what pressure is being applied by ownership to “win now” or to set up the team for a long run.
Where can I start a petition to bring back Hinkie!
I don’t see them trading Simmons or Embiid, as the return likely wouldn’t make a transaction worthwhile. Simmons has more potential than he’s shown, but his lack of perimeter shooting has undoubtedly held him back. Philly would be better off letting a new coach attempt to unlock his upside. Perhaps a transition to forward could make sense
Embiid is loaded with talent, but hasn’t looked motivated this season. I have a feeling he could completely dominate if he undergoes a proper strength and conditioning program. Thus, Philadelphia would be better off looking at internal improvement before completely transforming their roster
Via Reporter trade idea
Rockets get Horford and 2nd round picks
76ers get Tucker and Eric Gordon
Reporter view Horford as a good asset and Injury Prone Gordon as a bad asset
IMO
76ers add 2 future firsts to the deal and move Horford to 3rd team
That’s a joke, no way would they give up Tucker and Gordon just to get Horford. Daryl Morey would never make that trade, no chance.
I would trade Horford and 2 seconds for a bag of balls. Sixers have 4 second-round picks.
The balls are worth more.
ESPN wants to see
Simmons to Warriors
Ball to Knicks
3 way trade？
Wild and Electric point guard LaMelo is an artist
Comparable to Spike Lee and World Wide Wes a
I want to see Ball to the Knicks too, simply for the dumpster fire possibilities. I simply won’t have enough popcorn available for the potential Lavar/Dolan or Lavar/Spike Lee confrontations.
Although I think Embiid to the Warriors makes far more sense for them than Simmons.
There’s no way I would want to see Joel embiid in that Warriors locker room. He’s a clown who makes too much money and gets hurt far too often. I’d rather have a All Star wing. We will take Simmons though LOL.
If they’re smart the Sixers will trade Simmons while his value is still near its peak.
Last two years, Simmons has taken 90% of his shots from less than 10 ft, Embiid 50%. They both need the lane to do their thing. Next coach needs to design an offense around this fact. It can’t be one where either spots up while the other does his thing because neither shoots well enough to draw the defense out.
Horford would fit with Golden State. As the Sixers GM, I would gladly take back a bad contract in return for Horford.
Next season Wiggins is 25 years old and Horford is 35 years old. Both have 3 years contracts remaining
Warriors have the best defensive coaching staff. Prime Wiggins could be top 20 player.
Stats per game
Wiggins 22, 5, 4
Horford 12, 7, 4
When you have a terrible contract, you have to seek for another terrible contract to trade each other.
For instance, Chris Paul for Westbrook
1983. Even the Knicks have been more successful. Time to think about moving this team to Sioux City. Only then will it win anything beyond ping pong balls
Iowa don’t want the knicks
Or sixers
Trade JRich, Tobias Harris and 2 second round picks for CJ McCollum and Trevor Ariza.
Portland gets more depth with Lillard JRich Melo Harris and Nurkic
Sixers get shooters and vets. That’s probably the best they can do without giving up Embiid or Simmons.
Assumption: Pop stays at Spurs
The best coaching job ranking from Sillivan
Job security is the most important
Let’s say you sign 2 years contract with team option
1. Bulls
2. 76ers
3. Pelicans
4. Nets
If they were going to trade either of them, there’d be little reason (or at least little immediate reason) in firing Brown. They need a different (IMO, more conventional) approach in how they play with them. The roster changes can follow from that.
Give Simmons away for free to anyone who also takes (or pays for) Horford. Just start over with a competent front office and manager
Good idea
Pelicans get Simmons, Richardson and Horford
76ers get Ingram, Holiday and Ball
Both teams have draft picks to adjust….
They will never get equal value for Simmons or Embiid.
Buddy Hield, Zach LaVine, Aaron Gordon, Kevin Love, Beal, Randle, Eric Gordon
That’s probably the potential target list. Horford + 1sts or 2nds. Depending on the target.
They need a 3pt scorer, so Hield, LaVine, Beal are the only real options.
Never get va lue?— true. So don’t trade then!
Surprised Brand still has a job. Sixers should do their due diligence. To find the right coach. Sixers still a young team. First they should do is get a scoring PG. Move Simmons to wing. He can still run team from there. There’s a market for Harris and Horford. No need to jump ship. Sixers had big ones. They should go after Westbrook. Use Harris as bait.
Time for Sixers to get bold and creative. They can redo team.
Mark Jackson will figure it out. If Embiid waves off the coach…call timeout…put his ass on the bench for rest of game!