The Sixers have Joel Embiid, a two-time MVP runner-up. Additionally they have James Harden, a former MVP.
And it appears like Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey remains to be star-hunting.
After yet one more second-round exit, Morey knows he must proceed to enhance this roster. Whether that is at the highest with one other star to form a correct Big Three, or further down the roster with quality depth along the wings and behind Joel Embiid, it’s clear that more talent is required.
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And apparently Morey has his sights set at the highest of the depth chart – and the highest of the league.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has been particularly plugged-in to the Sixers’ considering in the course of the Morey era (he was the first voice on the Harden trade earlier this 12 months, and proved to be exactly right), joined ESPN’s #Greeny radio show on Monday with some pretty spicy trade rumor breadcrumbs.
Take it away, Windy:
“WINDHORST: I promise you that Daryl Morey has big, giant plans to accumulate one other star. Whether he’ll execute it, I do not know. But a part of getting that done is to require Harden to take some kind of paycut.
“[…]
“GREENBERG: What are the names that we’ll be talking heavily about once we get to [free agency]?
“WINDHORST: Well, you are doing a superb job of asking an issue that might potentially create news if I offer you the honest answer, so I will stop just in need of that. Philly has dreams and plans, Daryl Morey does.
“A key factor here is that they’ve Tobias Harris, who would have value in a possible trade. They’ve Tyrese Maxey, who would have value in a possible trade. And also you would wish a player, potentially near the tip of his contract, to come back and say, ‘I would love to go and play in Philadelphia.’ Is that something that would occur? Perhaps. We’ll see. I do know Philly and Daryl are going to attempt to make it occur.”
Hey in order that sounds uhhhh pretty specific! Almost like Morey has one specific guy in mind and Windhorst knows who it’s!
Okay then!
The apparent first name who involves mind is Bradley Beal. The Sixers were hot after the Wizards guard ahead of the trade deadline before Beal suffered a wrist injury, and are reportedly still keen on him.
Beal has one 12 months left on his contract, a $36 million player option for 2022-23. Will he opt-in? Will he wait until he can sign an extension? That is still to be seen. He’ll be making decisions for his own good and his own future, and the Sixers could have to see what happens there. But I’m sure Beal and his camp would remember that the Sixers are keen on bringing him to Philly.
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Obviously Sixers fans are going to hate the part where Windhorst mentions Maxey as a possible trade piece. The need can be to unload Harris and other players – Matisse Thybulle is a perfect option, and Shake Milton can also be fungible and low cost with a 2022-23 team option for roughly $2 million – without surrendering Maxey. Maxey is, after all, going to be highly sought-after by other teams. We’ll see if Morey can hold on to his young breakout star, who can also be cost-controlled for just a little while longer.
The query this offseason of superstar talent vs. expert depth will rage on between different camps of Sixers fans. I believe either is a high-quality approach (superstars normally win within the playoffs, but quality depth is sorely lacking on this roster) however the Sixers absolutely have to attack one or the opposite.
Appears like Morey has a plan able to launch. We’ll see.
