Sixers: 5 takeaways from first third of 2020-21 season

Sixers takeaway #3: Work in progress

The Sixers are not a finished product, no matter what the standings say. The lack of perimeter creation is still glaring. It’s reasonable to doubt Philadelphia’s ability to execute down the stretch in critical moments, especially once the playoffs arrive. While Embiid’s improved reading of double teams, paired with improved spacing, goes a long way, the absence of a reliable ball-handler and bucket-getter is hard to overcome.

There is also plenty of room to improve the bench. Dwight Howard is solid. Furkan Korkmaz and Tyrese Maxey are good in spurts. That said, the Sixers are not swimming in depth, and I’d caution against optimism when it comes to projecting Korkmaz and Maxey in the postseason. Expect Morey to scour the buyout market and look for buy-low candidates on the trade market.

Morey has said this season is championship or bust. He’s too smart to make that statement without going for it, and the Sixers are not yet in the uppermost tier of contention. If another star becomes available, Morey will undoubtedly throw his hat in the ring.

Also of note is the extra tools in Morey’s back pocket. The Sixers have a sizable trade exception due to the Al Horford trade. One big enough to absorb the contract of, say, P.J. Tucker. The Sixers also have the taxpayer’s mid-level exception at their disposal, which could give them the edge in a competitive buyout market. That said, the Nets also have extra salary to burn.

Do not expect the Sixers’ rotation to look the same after the trade deadline. Morey won’t make foundation-shaking trades for the sake of it — Ben Simmons is probably here to stay — but you can expect him to play his hand aggressively.