Philadelphia 76ers: 3 reasons Daryl Morey can deliver a contender

1. He gives the front office direction

Last season, the Sixers’ front office was a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Elton Brand’s sway was in constant doubt, ownership loomed large over decision-making, and no one knew who was in charge day-to-day. Jimmy Butler infamously said so when detailing his decision to leave.

While the Sixers declared substantial change after the Celtics sweep, this offseason was showing signs of the same old same old. Brand’s influence over the coaching search was unclear, and despite promises to change, no one in the front office was actually fired. It wasn’t until recently that Philadelphia added new voices under Brand, which was at least… something.

Morey changes the whole dynamic. Sixers’ ownership has put their money where their mouth is, hiring possibly the most expensive coach and the most expensive front office exec despite a league-high incoming tax bill. Morey will oversee basketball operations, which permanently removes Brand from the guise of “lead decision-maker.” Morey would not come to Philadelphia without some assurances regarding his agency, even if he’s not picking his staff.

The Sixers are now Morey’s team. Ownership will need to get out of the way — we can only wait and see — but if nothing else, Morey will be the voice ownership listens to first and last. That is an important development after the “collaborative” single-handedly slammed shut the Sixers’ wide-open title window.

Morey knows how to build a winner. He understands not only analytics, but how to apply analytics to what happens on the court. He’s not, for example, Alex Rucker, the Sixers’ now infamous analytics guru who seemingly played a large role in Al Horford’s arrival last summer. Rucker is expected to leave too, the cherry on top.

Philadelphia is in surprisingly good hands after a season smothered in uncertainty. Now, we await the draft and free agency.