After shutting down Joel Embiid for the rest of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have finally started to send the signal that they are ready to accept their fate in the current campaign. Now, with their playoff hopes now close to zero, the front office is just about ready to completely forget about the mess that has transpired all year long.
Aside from dealing with the huge enigma that is Embiid’s recovery plan, the 76ers will have a lot on their plates in the upcoming offseason. Touch choices will have to be made, and it is up to the front office to determine just how much change they are willing to effectuate in hopes of turning their prospects around as a collective for the immediate future.
However, those changes could also come from the franchise’s leadership. While there has not been any sign that Philly could be commencing a headhunting job for a new voice of reason up top, this season alone could promptly force them to do just that and move on from Daryl Morey.
The 76ers won’t need to look far away if they opt to replace Daryl Morey
Given how frustrating things have gone under Morey’s stewardship this season, the proverbial blame game could very well commence soon and force the franchise to make changes, starting from the longtime executive’s post as President of Basketball Operations.
Should the 76ers indeed decide to find a new man for the job, they would not need to look far away as the most obvious replacement for him is already on the board.
Elton Brand, who has been the team’s general manager since the 2018-19 season, is ripe for a promotion, and given how the 76ers have operated under familiairity with their front office signings in recent years, a promotion seems pretty spot-on.
While Morey has gotten the bigger share of the limelight thanks to his star-hunting inclinations, Brand has been behind a slew of shrewd moves the 76ers have pulled off for more than six seasons already. Hence, the path for him to succeed Morey should not be rocky at all.
Fans may not be amenable to such a subtle change in leadership, Morey’s uber-aggressive stance has already backfired, and it is high time for the franchise to consider giving Brand more decisional leeway as the lead decision-maker.
At this point, the Philadelphia 76ers do not have the luxury of time and resources to make a drastic switch up top. Allowing Elton Brand to succeed Daryl Morey would be the perfect opportunity for the franchise to make a change that won’t be too drastic to alter their already-cemented strategy, which they won’t be able to get away from so easily.