Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand should thank Daryl Morey

The Philadelphia 76ers’ GM should be grateful for Daryl Morey’s guidance.

Can I be honest with you all for a second? I did not see this coming. Just a few months ago, NBA insiders thought that after the Philadelphia 76ers were bounced in four games by Boston, the roster they had was virtually impossible to move considering the contracts and players in question. Many, including myself, figured that in order to truly reshape this roster, one of the stars had to go. Subsequently, the Sixers faithful were on watch to see which one would fall first: either Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid. It seemed like there was no other way around it.

Then Wednesday came. NBA Draft night.

Honestly, I was floored. Completely.

Al Horford’s horrible contract flipped for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson? Didn’t see it coming, but I was very surprised. And impressed. Another trade to bring in Seth Curry for Josh Richardson? Even more impressed!

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Complemented by a rather strong draft, probably the strongest draft the Sixers have had in quite a while, this was a very good night for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers first round pick, is going to be a very good player going forward. John Calipari doesn’t miss often in his recruiting, and his recruits don’t miss often in the pros. This kid might be special.

Besides OKC practically committing their version of the Carrolton Heist, thieving enough draft picks for the next few years to make Sam Hinkie smile in his rocking chair, the Sixers may have had the second-best night of all the NBA. They have immediately vaunted themselves back into the championship conversation in the East by acquiring players that will spread the floor for Embiid to command the paint and maximizing Simmons’ superb playmaking ability at the lead guard spot.

All of this leads me to the point of this article. Hey, Elton Brand: thank Daryl Morey. Buy him the best champagne. Sponsor a free vacation all paid by you for him and his family. Order and send the most expensive meals to his home for the next month. Why? Daryl Morey may have saved your job.

It’s not a far-fetched thought to consider that this year coming up would’ve been Brand’s last as Sixers GM had no moves been made. It was a very safe bet to assume that Brand was in the hot seat coming off of a aforementioned disastrous 2019-20 campaign, which saw him lead the charge, pushing all his chips to the middle to build a throwback bully ball team that was out of place. In a league where teams are in a human arms race, and front offices are spending to get the most powerful weapons to deploy, the Sixers spent their money on very expensive starter pistols, while everyone else is buying Gatling guns.

If sense (not cents) made dollars, the Sixers would’ve been below the poverty line.

So, another proven basketball mind had to be brought in to bring out the potential that everyone sees in this ball club, but not realized under the helm of Brand and ousted head coach Brett Brown. It seems like the Daryl Morey hire was just what the 76ers needed.

Or rather, what Elton Brand needed.

Who else raised a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson inspired eyebrow when the Sixers hired Brand as General Manager back in September of 2018? I surely did. Knowing that the Sixers needed someone who had some championship mettle, or at least some experience at the position to help Brown at that point was pertinent. Instead, the Sixers swung at the unknown.

Bringing in Daryl Morey was the safest thing for Elton Brand and the rest of the front office in Philadelphia. An accomplished GM at Houston, Morey complied the third best record in the league behind only San Antonio, and Golden State. What seemed like another year of frustration for the city of Brotherly Love, now has morphed back into optimism and great expectations.

What would’ve happened had Daryl Morey not been hired as president of basketball operations for the Sixers?

I don’t think Elton Brand would’ve wanted to find out.

Morey praised Brand & the Sixers front office for Wednesday’s draft night success. But I think it should be reversed. Brand and the front office should thank Morey for giving a rudderless ship some much needed direction for years to come.

The boys are back in business. And it took only three weeks to undo a year’s worth of mess.

Sixers fans buckle up. This may be a great season after all.

Elton Brand, the basketball gods sent you a care package.

Next. Grading the 2020 NBA Draft picks. dark

The Moreyball era has begun.