The Sixers’ new president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, insisted during his introductory press conference that he views Joel Embiid as the leader of a championship team rather than a trade piece, Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com relays.
After the longtime Rockets executive embraced small ball with his former team, there’s been speculation that Embiid’s days in Philadelphia might be numbered. Morey says that’s way off base.
“Joel is a dominant, dominant big man. I’m excited to get back to that,” he said. “I worked with Yao Ming and we got very close [to a title] in Houston with Yao Ming. I think we can go all the way with Joel.”
While Embiid is often colorful and sometimes controversial, Morey sees the oft-injured center as the leader of the team. Morey noted that Embiid has been in the team’s practice facility twice a day working out and getting his body in top condition for next season.
“I’ve talked to him, Elton (Brand) obviously knows him well, Doc (Rivers) has talked to him, he wants to win a championship,” Morey said. “He’s a smart player who knows you only have so many opportunities. He pushed everyone to improve the organization, improve the roster, and frankly I’m excited to go on this journey with Joel and Ben (Simmons) moving forward.”
Morey also addressed a number of other topics:
- Morey originally planned to take a year off after leaving Houston but, somewhat to the dismay of his family, the Sixers’ lobbying efforts won him over, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “Elton and Doc and Josh were relentless, just relentless, as soon as I stepped away. (Rivers) and I have been chatting a lot, and the more you dig into the players that are here, the more you get excited about what this team can do.”
- The Sixers won’t play the same system as the Rockets, who tried to win a championship without a traditional center after trading Clint Capela. “It’s not to take your talent and hammer it into a particular system,” he said. “It’s to try to get the most out of who you have.”
- He didn’t specifically address his controversial tweet about Hong Kong which drew the wrath of the Chinese government but Morey won’t shy away from social issues, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. “I do believe a lot in using this platform to push things that are important,” he said.
- Morey admits the roster needs to be reshaped in order to produce a true title contender, Pompey adds in another tweet. “Our championship team probably is not going to have the same players that we have now,” he said.
- Philadelphia’s pursuit of Morey two years earlier never led to serious negotiations, Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets. Morey said the talks did not go beyond the preliminary stages and the timing wasn’t right for him to make the move.
I wonder what they get for Ben Simmons.
Simmons and Horford to Thunder for Paul and any current players they want
They better include Shai in that deal for Simmons as well. But it sounds like Simmons days are outnumbered in Philly.
The Thunder aren’t trading Shai for Simmons. Shai is the player the Thunder are going to build around. He’s a real point guard. Simmons isn’t
76ers are going to trade away future first round picks
They will have to trade Horford as early as possible
They would be in deep trouble after this month if Horford stays
Umm Daryl…please explain when you and Yao Ming where close to winning a Title? Or do you mean a Division Title?
That’s a very interesting little statement…I honestly thought Simmons would be on the first bus out of town…but this has all the underlining of small ball all over again…maybe it’s goodbye Embiid. Bring on the off season!
Not really a Morey guy. But Brand needs help in Philly. And Morey is qualified. Frankly why does Brand still have a job there. Best thing they can do is move Ben to forward. Get a floor general type PG. And get shooters. Horford has value do not give him away. Philly also has good draft picks this yr. They have options. And can swing a major deal. Philly redone restocked can play for East. There is talent there.
You can expect Bulls & Sixers to make a deal, considering GM Eversley familiarity with the Sixers, and the cap room the Bulls can offer for a Philly team up against it.
While everyone offers up trade ideas involving Ben Simmons, I bet Eversley will want Shake Milton, the gem he uncoverd in the second round, and who is blocked by Simmons at the point. Considering Moorey has never been shy about trading picks away, perhaps the Bulls will take Horford’s massive contract and Milton plus this year’s first in exchange for…what?
Arcidiacono would have to be included, since he’s a Philly native and expendable. Could the Bulls add Satoransky & Thaddeus Young to get that haul?
Eversley KNOWS Ben… so, wouldn’t trade for him.
I know, right?
Who would trade for an All-Star, All-Defensive, All-NBA & 3rd best defender in the league, right?
I mean such a scrub, I am sure anyone can get a couple hundred better players than that in this offseason, right?
SMH! Dude your comment is sad!
I like it for the Bulls but no idea why Sixers would do that deal. None of those guys coming back from the Bulls can shoot worth a lick.
I could see the Cavs and Philly working out a deal to replace Horford with Love. Philly will have to throw in their first rounder and a second or two. Or Thybulle and a second. Love fits that team a lot better and has much more value at the moment than Horford does.
This trade increases luxury tax from 70m to 90m
How? Love makes 28.9, Horford makes 28, Thybulle makes 2.6 and the 21st overall pick makes 2 mill.
2020-21 salary
Love 31.3M
Horford 27.5M
Difference = 3.8M
3.8M *tax rate 5.25
After taking Horford contract, Cavs will go down for 3 more years.
Cavs entire team is full of below average players.
On paying so much luxury tax, 76ers would have the 2nd worst bench players in the nba. Rockets have the worst.
You’re not thinking things through Silli. Horford does not equal losing, he is a good player, just not at his salary or possibly the 4…
Philly just has too many high salaries. And if the package sent makes more than the packaged received, his contract can actually made the Sixers profit. The package includes other assets included, not just the main stars.
Math ability also takes thought, not just jumping on the keyboard when you feel a reaction. The NBA CBA has many little rules, and to circumvent it takes even more thought but all teams do it.
3 GMs won’t get along after 1 year
Brand
Rivers
Morey
Adding GMs and Head Coach, 76ers might have the highest payroll in the nba.
my payroll projected (completely guess)
Morey $6M per
Brand $5M per
Rivers 7M per
Total = 18M
Lakers GM + Head Coach = 10M
If 76ers can’t beat one of Bucks, Raptors, Celtics and Heat, then blame each other.
The NBA has become a three point league. That leaves Simmons out. He is a dinosaur
Really what NBA you watch. 3PT shot is only an offensive weapon. To me best offensive weapon is an assist. Then there’s the whole thing. Offense is only half the game. The 3pt shot has definitely become a weapon. It is not the League lol. Lakers won on D and rebounding. And their depth coming thru. The 3PT shot wasn’t even a big weapon for them. They shot 35% which is about league avg. Heat who for them is more a weapon. Shot 36.5% in 3PT. Which means Lakers played D. Shooting in general has become more important in NBA. But a player like Simmons is still an elite talent. He does everything else better than most. His shot will improve. He’s 23 his FG% and FT% has improved every yr. Relax man.
Simmons with a bunch of shooters is much more reliable than Embiid who is injury prone and lazy
If Embiid getting 30/12 is lazy… imagine hardworking Embiid!