Changes are coming to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer. While moving the needle to such extent that the front office is projected to do so was definitely not on their bingo card when they put together the group the franchise rode with in their recently concluded campaign, there is a wave of desperation for the team to return to relevance and prove that this year is a mere aberration.
In fact, team president Daryl Morey expressly admitted that a bevy of things doomed the squad this season, from injuries to a lack of team chemistry due to the same. All eyes are now on their offseason strategy, though, and between the draft and free agency, the longtime executive will have a long checklist that he hopes to mark down before training camp.
On that note, Morey seems to have already laid out the vision for how the 76ers brass intends to approach the open market. During the team’s exit presser, the longtime executive admitted that he was too focused on snagging veteran players with ample playoff experience, and that next year’s roster will be younger and more dynamic.
If so, that edict should spell the end for these three players in particular.
These three players are as good as gone for the 76ers next season after Daryl Morey’s clear statement
1. Kyle Lowry
Quite clearly the oldest player on the roster, Kyle Lowry is now extremely unlikely to get another contract from the 76ers brass. After all, not only is the backcourt already loaded as constructed, but his old age has also come with a steep decline in production.
Lowry is coming off a season where he finished with career-lows across-the-board. CouplIng that with the fact that he missed more than half of the games this season, he will undoubtedly need to find a new home this summer that could embrace his lack of on-court viability at this point in his career.
2. Eric Gordon
Another casualty of Daryl Morey’s latest statement should be Eric Gordon. While he definitely lived up to his billing as a sharpshooter this season, the 76ers have no reason to settle for an aged veteran who is only a one-trick pony at this point.
Aside from his three-point shooting, Gordon is nearly negligible on the court. His former burst going downhill has become completely gone, he is a liability on defense due to his lack of size, and his dearth of playmaking prowess does not help his case, either.
3. Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond has a player option he can exercise to return next season, but that will not stop the front office from shipping him eslewhere should he indeed try to return for another campaign. After all, he has been pretty disappointing this season.
Drummond’s lack of efficient finishing around the basket and rim protection overshadow his tenacious rebounding. And with Joel Embiid not expected to return to full health next season, the 76ers have to seek better alternatives, whether in-house or externally, than the former All-Star.