Daryl Morey has had his justifiable share of regular-season success with the Philadelphia 76ers, however that doesn’t imply he ought to be the one to steer the ship.
After a disappointing NBA season, groups often are likely to overreact or place blame within the mistaken locations.
The New Orleans Pelicans fired government David Griffin regardless of him, most of the time, making the precise name. The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Mike Budenholzer, though he wasn’t the one who traded all of their draft picks for an ill-fated “Huge Three.”
The Philadelphia 76ers, in the meantime, have been one other sufferer of an unlucky season. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and promising rookie Jared McCain all suffered accidents early within the season, and the crew was not in a position to bounce again.
Whereas it’s straightforward to put blame on accidents for this season, and that will be a professional excuse, the Sixers are not any strangers to disappointing outcomes.
Embiid is a league MVP and was a top-three participant when wholesome. He additionally, critically, has at all times been surrounded by not less than one All-Star since Morey took over in 2020. Tyrese Maxey, James Harden, and Ben Simmons all had wonderful flashes in Philadelphia, though some questionable strikes by Morey resulted in lackluster outcomes.
That mentioned, not every little thing was his fault. Simmons’ refusal to take a wide-open layup in 2021 was not the results of poor roster development, it was a scarcity of particular person confidence. George’s accidents this season weren’t Morey’s fault, though committing $212 million to him over 4 seasons was.
Even including James Harden in change for Simmons made sense on the time, though the choice aged poorly and was bumbled by Morey.
Jared McCain, earlier than he tore his meniscus, was the most effective rookies within the draft class, and Morey might be credited with deciding on him. Nevertheless, there have been loads of errors. His rush to signal Embiid to an rigidity final summer season is gaining a number of scrutiny.
On the finish of the Sixers’ 24-win season, Morey appears filled with confidence.
“I’ll spend each waking hour determining the best way to flip this crew round going into subsequent season,” he promised The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
With a excessive draft choose, offered it doesn’t convey to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder by falling exterior of the highest six, the Sixers ought to have the ability to add extra younger expertise, though Morey should confront an unlucky actuality, and there’s no assure that he’ll have the ability to do it.
Can the Sixers win with Embiid as their centerpiece? They’ve by no means been in a position to do it earlier than, and as he recovers from harm, there’s no assure he’ll return to MVP-form.
Maxey, George, McCain, and an unnamed rookie usually are not a foul supporting forged, however wouldn’t it be finest to chop ties with Embiid solely?
That is still to be seen, however Morey should pull the set off rapidly if it turns into clear that Embiid can’t be relied on. He spent half a season ready on Ben Simmons to return, and barely acted with urgency. There isn’t any purpose for possession to contemplate firing him but, however the ice ought to be carrying skinny.
