Opening and closing the cap on a water bottle so often you wondered if there was a prop bet for it, basketball operations chief Daryl Morey explained Monday that the Sixers are in for significant change this offseason.
With more than $65 million in salary cap space, the ability to trade the No. 16 and 41 draft picks, and two stars on the roster in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers could become a preferred destination.
What won’t change is Morey’s approach, to win now with star power complemented by fringe players Morey prides himself on adding.
The way Morey described it at his end-of-season news conference, the Sixers are better off than at this point last season because they know Maxey can be the star complement to Embiid. The challenge is to add another star, though Monday was not the time to name names, and surround him with players like Kelly Oubre and Kyle Lowry, both free agents. With Morey it’s quality, not quantity.
“Generally, historically, having top players works better,” Morey said. “I know recently just to talk about storylines everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you know, it’s the teams with depth that win.’ You go back a little bit, and recent teams have won without much depth like the Lakers. You have teams without continuity that have won recently. We’ll have continuity with our stars and our head coach, but we’re going to have a lot of change this offseason. So, it’s good that there are teams like the Lakers, like Toronto, like the Milwaukee Bucks who made big changes the year they won the title. They didn’t have a ton of continuity those years.
“So, long story short, there isn’t like a formula. Everyone wants to find a pattern, and there isn’t one. The pattern is to have really good players and have them be better than all the teams you play.”
Morey fielded questions for 30 minutes at the Sixers training facility in Camden. Drove you crazy with the water bottle act, holding it like a prop and screwing and unscrewing the top often without taking a sip.
There was no question that Morey feels good about moving the Sixers forward despite a disappointing first-round playoff exit in six games to the Knicks, who have one certified star in Jalen Brunson.
At the top of Morey’s shopping list is a legit wingman for Embiid and Maxey.
“Someone at the wing who can play and deliver at a high level in the playoffs,” Morey said. “That’s the biggest need.”
That indicates free agent Tobias Harris will be shown the door, although Morey said there is interest in retaining all of the team’s free agents.
Paul George fits that criterion, and there are reports the Sixers and Orlando covet him. The Sixers are closer to a title than the Magic, who took a big step forward but are another year away.
The drawing power of Embiid and Maxey could help recruit George or talents like LeBron James and Jimmy Butler.
Just so you know, Morey says age isn’t a part of any mythical formula to win a championship. George is almost 34. Butler will be 35 next season, James 40.
“If anything, the direction of the arrow and age has been that it’s less of an impact than it has been in the past,” Morey said. “We have a lot of tools this offseason. More than most teams in our situation. More draft picks, more cap space and two great players but that story is yet to be written. We’ll have to see how the offseason goes and how we play. If (star players) can play basketball and they can fit with Joel and Tyrese, then we want them here.”
Morey explained that the Sixers are basically committed to only Embiid, Maxey, who is a restricted free agent, Paul Reed and Ricky Council IV.
“We’re mostly going to be a veteran laden team,” Morey said. “There’s going to be a lot of change. Except for Nick Nurse, Joel and Tyrese, and Paul and Ricky, we don’t know for sure who’s going to be back next year. We’ll have continuity with our stars and our head coach but we’re going to have a lot of change this offseason. We feel like we’re in the window where we have to win now. We’re mostly focused on getting the best players that fit in with Joel and Tyrese.”
In terms of Embiid’s health, there are ongoing discussions of how to enhance the big guy’s conditioning. Embiid is often hurt late in seasons when his team needs him most.
Whether or not he plays in the Paris Olympics for Team USA is Embiid’s decision, according to Morey. By then the Sixers should be better after free agency and the draft.
“Obviously, we didn’t meet our goals this year,” Morey said. “That said, man, this place is buzzing. Everyone is in and excited to attack this offseason. Obviously, we have two great studs to build around in Joel and Tyrese. Tyrese took a big leap forward this year. We think the sky is the limit for him. Joel was incredible for us, a warrior for us to the end. So, we’re excited in who we’re building around.
“This offseason is a big one. I owe it to the fans, to ownership, to everybody to get this team in a place where we’re competing for championships, and we obviously didn’t achieve that this year.”
