Sixers president Daryl Morey met with reporters today for the first time since his team was bounced from the playoffs Sunday night and it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to Ben Simmons, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Morey was asked several times during the virtual press conference if he expects the former No. 1 pick to be on the roster next season. He didn’t make a definite commitment on Simmons’ future and said, “I think it’s pretty straightforward what certain players need to improve.”
That statement echoes comments Simmons made Sunday night about his poor free throw shooting and lack of offense in general. He shot 34.7% from the foul line in the playoffs and scored a combined 19 points in the final three games of the conference semifinals.
Coach Doc Rivers has said the team plans intensive offseason shooting work for Simmons, who disappeared offensively in the fourth quarter throughout the Atlanta series.
Morey didn’t tip his hand on his plans for Simmons.
“We have a very strong group we believe in,” he said. “None of us can predict the future of what’s going to happen in any, in any place. We love what Ben brings, we love what Joel (Embiid) brings, we love what Tobias (Harris) brings, in terms of what’s next we’re gonna do what’s best for the 76ers to give us the best chance to win the championship with every single player on the roster.”
Morey attributed the second-round loss to issues with the offense and said the team needs to become more efficient on that end of the floor. He said he’s still processing the unexpected defeat and admits the Sixers are a long way from where he wants them to be.
“I think if you replay that Game 7 a bunch of times and, you know, we execute better, then we win,” Morey said. “But look, reality is reality. We didn’t do it and, and frankly if we’re squeaking by the second round that just tells me we’re not, we’re unfortunately not good enough, probably to win the title so we need to get better. But, you know, the game, that series, is still incredibly painful.”
He singled out the effort by Embiid, who played the entire semifinal series with a small meniscus tear in his right knee. Even though he admitted being limited by the injury, Embiid averaged 30.4 points and 12.7 rebounds in the seven games.
Morey added that Embiid will receive a full medical review from the team’s doctors before any decision is made about offseason surgery.
Morey also addressed the negative stories that have been written about the team since Sunday’s loss, contending the dire public perception of the organization isn’t deserved.
“People (are) saying the Sixers are in a bad situation,” he said. “I don’t choose to come here, (Rivers) doesn’t choose to come here if this is a bad situation. I mean, really 25 or 26 teams in this league would love to be in our situation with an MVP-caliber top player and All-Star, near All-Star, great young players who are signed for the long term, good veterans. So, we’ve got a good foundation. We just have to do better, I have to do better, everyone has to do better.”
I don’t trust Morey
For the final 3 years with Rockets, he destroyed Rockets future
Rockets assets are getting worse and worse from 2017 to 2020
From 1999 to 2018
Spurs were title contenders for 20 consecutive years, Rockets were not
Rockets are likely to miss the playoffs for next 5 consecutive years
How likely? In reality very unlikely. The last time Houston missed the playoffs 3 years in a row they finished 9th in the West each time (2010-12). The last time they missed the playoffs 4 years straight they finished in 9th place twice and 11th place twice (2000-03). But now with the play-in tournament a 9th place team still has a chance to reach the playoffs. And the only time in franchise history they missed the postseason in 5 consecutive years was when the team moved from San Diego in 1971 so that was 2 years in SD and 3 in Houston with no playoff appearances.
If history tells us we’ll be the middle of the pack then that sucks. Who cares how many time you make the playoffs if you’re the bottom of the bracket. I’d rather stack top 4 picks for multiple years and miss the playoffs than be mediocre and suck forever.
Currently West is tough for Rockets
IMO
Grizzlies are a better team than Hawks
After trading away Wiseman and Picks, Warriors are also better than Hawks
I believe you mean, that in Morey’s final 3 years with the Rockets, Tilman Fertitta destroyed the Rockets future.
Xactly! Morey would never trade CP3 for Westbrook, harden and fertita did that.
Both
Exactly. Morey did what he was asked to do.
The owner was responsible for a lot of those moves. Bill Simmons and Morey have a really good relationship and Simmons has basically said a few times on pods Morey told him he didn’t want to make those trades.
Rivers a way worse ring chaser and scammer than KD ever was, why isn’t he getting roasted for this? He lies so damn much as a pro sports coach, its unprecedented amongst his peers. HE was the problem of that team. Just a car salesman nothing more.
He only has a job because kg and Allen save this job. He now known as I can’t get past the 2nd round doc. Why do people keep trusting him idk .
He has had 3 chances to prove us wrong. Two different clippers rosters and one with philly and yet nothing . Philly be better off with an new coach and a pg who could shoot.
What TP would give the media a hint on whether he plans to shop one of his players? Of course, almost no HC would throw a player under the bus in response to a softball question. Philly media may believe they’re on a roll.
Agreed.
When I saw Doc Rivers say that he didn’t know if Simmons was a championship caliber PG (or whatever), one of my first thoughts was that Rivers should know better than to say that. My second thought was that he was either very emotional or he was trying to lay blame at Simmon’s feet.
And my third thought is that coaches who publicly damage a player’s trade value the way Rivers did should get fined or fired. Considering Rivers used to be a GM, I’d say he deserves to get fired for that little comment.
Whatever we all think about Simmons, how good he is, etc., there’s no excuse for the head coach to do what Rivers did. Especially if they have front office experience.
It wasn’t just Doc — Embiid specifically called out Simmons’ passing up a dunk as the turning point.
I mean, to be fair, it was the turning point — you just don’t expect your best player and head coach to throw a guy under the bus so egregiously.
IDK about fined, to me it’s an internal issue best kept behind closed doors.
Fired? I think Doc should be fired because he’s coached more talent than anyone the last 15 years and has 1 title and litany of disappointing playoff exits to show for it. But apparently the rest of the League sees something in him I don’t, haha
I agree fired seems extraordinary for a little comment, but if anyone should know better, it’s Doc. It would be like a commercial pilot forgetting to do a pre-flight – it’s just not something they should ever do. It seems like a fireable offense for that reason.
Yup, I don’t disagree. Nobody heard Quinn talking about how he didn’t know if Gobert is “truly a center on a championship team” after Friday night.
Doc told the truth. The same truth we all saw. Even Simmons made himself available to the media to answer for it, and called himself out.
If anything, Doc should be applauded.
Sixers aren’t paying Doc to be an analyst, or perform the public service of truth telling. Honestly, I don’t why they’re paying him. But, as an employee, he has an obligation to act in furtherance of his employer’s interest. That said, I DON’T think this rises to the level of a “cause” for terminating employment, because there was no intent or pointedness to his statements. And he makes too much money to fire without cause after one year.
Why wasn’t Simmons problem fixed last off season. He didn’t just get this bad
I bet nobody asked Morey if Doc’s offense consisted of rotating the take-over guy, and when Simmons was tapped with the honor, would just operate in a gear of his own and stress players out.
The best fix for Simmons starts with another team. Have the guts to trade, Morey.
Should have had the guts to trade mid-season. Now it’s going to be tough — Morey doesn’t strike me as the type to sell low.
The best part of this whole presser was Morey making Howard Eskin look like the moron that he is.
Morey says that everyone has to do better
My understanding is that
GMs grade is not A
Coaches grade is not A
Simmons grade is not A
Morey is the typical a**hole who believes he’s the smartest guy in the room. Last I checked its zero championships in fourteen years. Philly has only gotten worse since his arrival.
Lol. This post should go straight to the garbage bin
But Morey *is* the smartest guy in the room. He’s one of the smartest minds in basketball. He could work for any team in the league.
Please lay out the list of “smart” things Morey has done..
@mac – Why, so you can troll some little thing he’s done? Why don’t we just see what NBA journalists had to say back when Morey left the Rockets?
OH, I KNOW. Because if you accepted the reporting at face value, you’d agree he is highly respected for his smarts and skill.
One thing is for sure. Philly ownership will not wait 13 yrs to fire his fat a**. But then again, he can’t be fired, he’s the smartest guy in the room.
This must be Eskins burner
@Joe Golfer
That is a lot of sass there Joe!
A lot of Hot Sass!
SMH
Last I checked they have t been a one seed since 2001. They haven’t had a guy finish second in mvp since 2001, and they got swept last year and were left for dead. They had a legit chance this year. To say Philly is worse since he took over is an outright lie so please say your act of contrition.
Although the Sixers lost to a inferior team it exposed weakness hidden by docs great coaching through out. the year. With that being said you do not trade a 24 year old freak of nature like Simmons because of a flaw in his game that can be corrected.
That 24 year old freak of nature is scared to death to shoot and has buckled like a belt under the pressures of the postseason. The flaw in his game is not the shot, it’s some sort of a severe mental block. We’ve seen the kid score. He can do it. He just needs to lace up his big boy shorts and shoes and be the “superstar” he says he is. Whether that’s here or elsewhere will be decided
Lol @ buckled like a belt. Belts are supposed to buckle.
So close.
Hes going nowhere and by the by 42 against the vaunted Rudy tells me he can score.
Then best of luck trying to win a title with him
The ship has sailed. Trade his ass for Reggie Jackson or Hield and keep it moving. Dude didn’t learn to shoot in his 6 years in league so what makes you think this summer will be different! That’s what happens when fake news sports media hype up unskilled players just to get some views. NBA got stop with these guaranteed contracts! Adam Silver got go
I hate to say it, but I don’t think you trade Ben this summer. There’s just no way his value can get any lower. Have him come back put up some meaningless regular season stats, then hope you can dupe a team into taking him at the TD.
This just IN …. Ben is NOT a PG …..
Why not just listen to me. It’s only been 4 yrs. Ben can not come back from this. I agree with Magic, what he said. He needs to go. He will never outlive this in Philly. Too bad his value is down. But Sixers can’t go with him. It’s the worst case iof a star player crashing ever. Ben learn to shoot. You do t have to be Curry just better. Not a little scared rabbit that’s scared to shoot or go to FT line. Why is it so hard to get better at shooting. This is your craft. I can help you for FREE lol. I guarantee it. It’s unimaginable an NBA player with your talent can’t shoot 70% FT. You should be punishing them on post. And going to FT. Ben can’t go back to Philly.
Of course he isn’t, he never was. LeBron is not a PG, neither is Draymond.
lol “Ben cannot come back from this” then “Ben I can help you… I guarantee it”.
Who would ask Knickbocker? You go.
Pretty much a terrible time to be a Philadelphia sports fan. The Sixers point guard has a fatal flaw(s) , the Flyers and Eagles took major steps backwards and the Phillies are mired in mediocrity. The Sixers won’t trad Simmons because his stock has cratered.
Question: Can you fix a player who is too scared to shoot the basketball?
If the answer is no – trade him tomorrow.
If the answer is yes – how long do you wait to see if it works? First game? Just keep passing him the ball until he shoots on every single possession to prove a point? Basically lose the first game forcing Ben to shoot or retire?
Another player had a fear of flying and the current GM straight up cut ties with the man after drafting him 16th overall. .
I seem to remember two years ago Simmons had a shooting guru to help him all Summer. He hit a couple of threes and everyone went nuts. This ‘fix’ won’t work either.
Simmons for Buddy Hield. Walton is an overrated coach too so having an overrated player like Simmons will do wonders for him.
Morey is in a horrible situation now. Simmons’ stock is plummeting and if the Sixers don’t trade him soon they will be stuck with him until 2025. His $177M contract is slowing becoming the worst in the entire NBA. The way things are going he will soon be more untradeable than Draymond Green, Kevin Love, or even Westbrook.