The Philadelphia 76ers’ 2024 offseason will undoubtedly go down as one of the most controversial periods in franchise history. Between signing Paul George to a multi-year maximum contract and filling out Philadelphia’s roster with seasoned vets, the 76ers were crowned as offseason winners. However, that notion came crashing down throughout the season as Philadelphia’s newly-formed star trio of George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey missed a combined 136 games.
Needless to say, injuries savagely derailed the 76ers’ season and forced them into an impromptu tank. While George’s extensive contract will remain a talking point for years to come, Philadelphia’s inability to stay healthy revealed numerous holes on its roster that many thought were filled last summer. With veterans Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon offering subpar production, it quickly became evident that the 76ers failed to build a viable supporting cast around their stars. During his end-of-season press conference today, Daryl Morey vowed to not make the same mistake again.
Morey took accountability for the 76ers' shortcomings
Morey opened up the conference with an opening statement where he took accountability for arguably the most disappointing season in Philadelphia’s history: “A tough season, not where we expected to be,” Morey said. We expect more. We really feel for the fans who put their heart and soul into this team, and we know we’ve let you down,” reported Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the NBA – especially this season – a notable portion of 76ers fans were expecting a drastic change of direction that involved Morey and/or Nick Nurse losing their jobs. However, Morey confirmed that he and Nurse will return for the 2025-26 season. Morey admitted he has to do a better job of building a supporting cast around its top-end talent, but also noted it was hard to build cohesion due to the unprecedented amount of injuries that wrecked the team.
Throughout the season, 76ers fans have proposed bold ideas about how to improve the roster – including trading Embiid, George, or even Maxey. Still, Philadelphia seems to be dedicated to building around its controversial trio and focused on improving its roster around the margins. Morey felt he invested in too many veterans and vowed that the 76ers will have a younger, more dynamic roster next season.
Philadelphia’s new roster-building outlook seemed to originate around the NBA trade deadline in February. Days leading up to the deadline, the 76ers traded Caleb Martin – their most valuable rotational veteran – to the Dallas Mavericks for a package that landed them Quentin Grimes – a younger two-way wing who has far surpassed Martin’s brief contributions. Philadelphia also dealt Reggie Jackson and a 2026 first-round pick swap to the Washington Wizards for Jared Butler, who has shown plenty of upside in his 27-game tenure.
The 76ers have a plan
It’s conclusive to say that the 76ers’ offseason plans are clear – acquire younger talent to round out the roster and retain Grimes as well as Guerschon Yabusele: "I think [Grimes] was a real bright spot,” Morey said. “We're excited for him to come back. We've positioned ourselves to bring him back,” via Zach Ciavolella of Philly Sports Network. Grimes is set to enter restricted free agency this summer – meaning that the 76ers can match any offer he may receive from opposing teams without objection from luxury tax implications.
However, re-signing Yabusele appears to be more of a difficult task. In their end-of-season press conferences, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond strongly suggested that they’ll pick up their player options for next season, which would pay them a combined $13.4 million. It’s also important to remember that if Philadelphia retains its 2025 first-round pick, the salary of whoever it drafts will be configured with its payroll. Still, Morey expressed a desire to re-sign Yabusele, but he did acknowledge he is an unrestricted free agent.
Happiness and contentment are the last feelings that 76ers fans should feel amidst the conclusion of this season, but the fact that the front office seems to have a distinct vision heading into the offseason should be slightly reassuring. Regardless, fans and executives alike need proof that the tandem of Embiid, Maxey, and George will work before anyone gets excited or optimistic about the 76ers’ championship aspirations.