With the Philadelphia 76ers turning in one of, if not the most disappointing start from an anticipated title contender in recent history, absolutely no one would pencil in their front office as contender for genius brass of the year. After all, their well-documented maneuvering in free agency has culminated in fool’s gold, at least through the first 18 games.
For as good as Daryl Morey, Elton Brand, and company were during the summer, results will always be the litmus test for how effective the front office is. Unfortunately, from the lens of win-loss cards, the 76ers’ decision-makers have been just as subpar.
Morey believers and truthers, however, know fully well that the longtime executive is not one to be okay with being adjudged as a terrible man at the helm. And while he has not looked the part of a genius due to the team’s brutal start, he and the entire front office had pulled a big reversal, making another team look really stupid for their gatekeeping act from a season ago.
76ers front office pulls hilarious reverse card on the Bulls
A surprising development that has quietly emerged recently is the Bulls’ reported posturing from a potential fire sale. With Chicago currently stuck in the middle, the only viable way for them to clarify their direction is to actually pick one — and that entails letting go of their older commodities to embrace a full youth movement.
Naturally, as one of the oldest players on the roster, Nikola Vucevic is officially on the hot seat. Despite posting All-Star worthy numbers this season, the two-time All-Star will not really fetch a lot of buyers for his name. In fact, his rumored price tag could shock you to the core — two second-round picks as the baseline.
Remember last season when the 76ers were so desperate for another center to fill in for the then-injured Joel Embiid that they were willing to dangle away four second-round picks for Andre Drummond who was Vucevic’s backup? Even more perplexingly, the Bulls had the audacity to reject that offer outright, only to let him walk for nothing to sign…with Philadelphia.
Well, not only did the 76ers eventually hit on their target without flipping any assets, but as kismet would have it, the Bulls could very well be shopping their All-Star caliber center for a much lower price tag than the one they declined for his former backup. That is a pretty terrible look for the Bulls front office.
Well, that’s what they get for their senseless gatekeeping. In this regard, no one can argue about the 76ers front office looking the part of a genius.