Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey still had two “expensive” years left on his contract, but that didn’t dissuade the team’s ownership group from deciding that a front office change was necessary, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
After formally confirming on Tuesday that they’ve parted ways with Morey, the 76ers have tasked Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president of sports Bob Myers with temporarily running the front office and leading the search for a new lead basketball executive. However, according to Fischer, the plan is for Myers to return to an advisory role once a hire is made.
Myers will consider candidates within the organization in addition to external options, Fischer writes. While it’s too early to identify potential frontrunners, Fischer says Andre Iguodala, the current NBPA executive director who played under Myers in Golden State and also spent several years playing in Philadelphia, isn’t expected to receive consideration for the job, even though his stint with the players’ union is scheduled to end next month.
Here’s more from Fischer on the Sixers:
- Although fans in Philadelphia weren’t happy about the mid-season trade that sent Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for draft assets, including a 2026 first-rounder, a source with knowledge of the situation told Fischer that deal wasn’t the “proverbial last straw” for Morey. Ownership “very much approved” that deal, Fischer writes, which makes sense, given that it helped the 76ers move out of luxury tax territory. The club is also optimistic about its ability to select a quality prospect next month with the No. 22 overall pick acquired in that trade, Fischer adds.
- There’s a widespread belief that the Sixers would be best off resetting their roster around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, but that will be easier said than done in the short term, Fischer notes. The three years and $188MM left on Joel Embiid‘s contract will make it very challenging to move him without attaching sweeteners, which likely won’t appeal to Philadelphia, meaning an Embiid trade is unlikely to happen this offseason. According to Fischer, one idea mentioned by rival strategists is a swap involving Embiid and Kings center Domantas Sabonis, but he acknowledges that calling that scenario a “long shot” might be understating it.
- As tricky as Embiid would be to move, the same may no longer be true of Paul George, who rehabilitated his value to some extent with a strong finish to the season, including a playoff run in which he shot 49.3% from three-point range. George also has just one guaranteed year remaining on his maximum-salary contract, with a player option to follow, so if he conveys a willingness to decline that option in favor of an extension that starts at a lower number, that could make potential suitors more comfortable rolling the dice on him. Fischer likens George’s contract situation – and trade value – to Trae Young‘s entering last season. The Hawks didn’t acquire any draft picks for Young but they didn’t have to send out any either, and they were able to acquire two relatively team-friendly contracts in their deal with Washington.
- Even though Nurse will remain in his position as head coach, there’s an expectation that his staff will undergo some offseason changes, according to Fischer, who observes that a number of Sixers assistants are on expiring contracts.
It’s early into this. I’m wait to see how it plays out. However I do believe Embiid can be moved(not saying he will just that he can). I think a younger up and coming guy fits here. Someone who can work thru the garbage Morey left. Someone with patience. Let’s see how it goes. The sixers track record isn’t great
I’m curious on which organization you think would be willing to take on all the baggage that comes with Embiid.
The hornets make sense. A small market team that can’t land star players in FA could take the risk. Again I’m not saying it’s an easy trade. Just saying it could happen. Nobody is saying it’s an easy trade however everyone can be traded. I have seen the worst of the worst contracts get moved.
Embiid is more likely to be waived and stretched when that becomes possible than he is to be traded
Maybe that’s true. I’m not disagreeing. He has 3yrs and 2 are guaranteed. I think a trade could still be possible. Again I have said that it’s a chance. I never said sure thing
Nevermine it’s a player option at 67mil. I was wrong. No way he turns that down. So yea it’s a 3yr deal that starts next year
Yeah I can’t imagine he’d opt out of 67 million dollars lol
So after watching the Timberpups bite the bullet last night, and knowing that they’re stuck in the West with absolutely loaded teams like the Spurs and Thunder clearly better than them, I think we can put them now in the category of desperate teams that might consider an Embiid trade. If you started with a framework of Gobert and Randle for Embiid and filled it out with salary/picks, that could be something that both teams might consider.
I’m curious, because you have been saying Embiid is tradeable in several different discussions recently.
What other “worst of the worst” contracts have you seen moved? The only one I can think of that remotely compares to Embiid’s is AD, and his was only two years including his player option.
Trae Young was a totally different situation because he only had one very expensive option year left.
What other deals are comparable to Embiid’s three year, $190M guarantee?
Gilbert Arenas 2008 contract was probably as bad if not worse.
Seriously? You went back to a contract almost 20 years ago when there was no tax apron and you think that compares?
For giving a player a bad contract? Yes it compares. You didn’t give any stipulations for your question either. They paid him a fortune especially for 2008 money. He played far less often than Embiid over the life of the contract too. Embiid played in like 10 less games this year than Gilbert did over the first 3 years of that contract they gave him lol
I think you’re missing the point of the discussion here – it’s not a question about a bad contract per se. It’s about the possibility that the bad contract can be traded.
In this current environment, with all the first and second apron restrictions, what team would possibly trade for a player who only plays in half of the games and who will account for one third of the team’s entire salary cap?
You’re asking the wrong person. Scroll up and see my original comment. I said he’s more likely to be waived and stretched than he is traded.
I then simply offered a contract for comparisons sake.
Wizards or Nets seem desperate enough.
If I was the Clippers I’d consider Joel if I got back my swap , my own pick Philly owns and number 22 this year from Philly
The salaries back to Philly would almost all be expiring in the likes of Lopez Bogdan Derrick jones Dunn Beal and isiah Jackson ( 2 years left )
That be the closest I can get to a Joel trade today
That could work actually
It’s a shame NBA doesn’t allow buyouts so could just dump Embiid
They allow buyouts, a team can also place him on waivers allowing another team to assume the contract, and they can ‘waive and stretch’ the contract as well.
George just turned 36 and will be making $54 million this year, with an option for another $57 million next year. I just can’t see any other team taking on that deal without getting picks.
Removing Morey is like throwing the towel in after Drago already annihilated Apollo.
Embiid exceeds waive and stretch 15% rule. Who is trading for him unless you attach picks? Can’t add impact talent bc he’s on a max, Maxey and PG are too.
PG… maybe maybe someone thinks they would like PG at 2/80M after next season, they trade for him he declines his PO, gets a 3/80 type deal. Does that team exist? Otherwise… waive and stretch, trade away with picks, keep him.
So either way they are probably stuck until 2029 or 2030. Better draft HOF players. Thats the only true out.
BTW, not to rub salt in a wound, but Jared McCain literally must think he died and went to basketball heaven 😜
Nobody is taking Embiid. So forget that and concentrate on the things you can do. You build the team around VJ and Maxey. With Embiid as your center for now. And hope he’s there, is healthy enough to play two yrs. Then you might be able to move him. Or just make it to his last yr and buy him out.
The player you can move is PG. I do it as soon as possible. Get the best you can —
— Would you do ??
PG to >>>> Warriors for Jimmy and #1 pick.
OR
PG to >>>> Heat for Wiggins, Herro (Herro to a third team). There’s a deal here. Heat have wanted George before.
PG >>>> Mavs for PJ, Thompson, Gafford.
Point is PG can be moved. Even if you take a small loss. Time to move on and build around the guards.