The Sixer Sense
Fansided

76ers: Dissecting Daryl Morey’s recent comments on The Rights to Ricky Sanchez

By Steven Bagell

James Harden, Daryl Morey, 76ers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
James Harden, Daryl Morey, 76ers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

The trade deadline

Spike mentioned the Phoenix Suns adding Kevin Durant at the trade deadline and asked Daryl how tough it is for a team to win it all while incorporating a star into their team so late into the season, similar to what the Sixers did with James Harden last season. Daryl admitted that “he underestimated how long it would take James and Joel to develop chemistry.” In The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor’s article Daryl Morey Changed the Game, but He Still Hasn’t Beaten it, KOC mentioned that Daryl’s philosophy previously was to always worry about acquiring talent rather than focus on team chemistry and how pieces fit together. The article also stated that Daryl now recognizes that his approach is more balanced than it previously was. Luckily, last year’s James Harden trade checked both boxes. As they continuously develop chemistry, the Embiid-Harden pick and roll has become one of the most unstoppable plays in basketball this season.

Daryl also mentioned that the Sixers were always prioritizing Jalen McDaniels leading up to the deadline. Not only is McDaniels an overall talent upgrade for the Sixers, but acquiring his minuscule salary and sending out Thybulle got the Sixers under the luxury tax threshold for this season. Daryl killed two birds with one stone in that respect. Daryl also said Jalen McDaniels has “starter potential” which he defined as someone who’s generally a two-way player or is in the top ten percentile on either end of the floor. Daryl then specifically quantified his statement by saying Jalen is an above average player on both ends, making him a two-way player.

While Matisse Thybulle fits the criteria of a top ten percentile defensive player, he was a major liability on offense to the point where he was likely nothing more than a situational player in the playoffs. Thybulle’s lack of offensive development landed him in Rivers’ dog house.

McDaniels not only provides the Sixers with a reliable big wing off the bench as the 7th man in the playoffs, but he also excels defensively due to his athleticism and length. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers have also been 5.7 points per 100 possessions better with McDaniels on the court, while Thybulle was consistently a negative in that category during his time in Philadelphia.

In a summer where the Sixers moves are mostly going to be overshadowed by how they handle the James Harden situation, Thybulle was never going to be a priority to be re-signed. Even though McDaniels is also a free agent this summer, he’s a guy I believe the Sixers would want to keep. Acquiring McDaniels now doesn’t guarantee the Sixers will retain him in free agency, but it gives them the flexibility because McDaniels bird rights will allow the Sixers to go over the cap to sign him rather than be stuck to using a minimal exception like the taxpayer mid-level exception. Given they’re a luxury tax paying team, the Sixers usually wouldn’t have a chance to sign a player of McDaniels caliber this summer.