1. James Harden trade
Morey believed in Harden when he was the Thunder’s sixth man. The executive brought the future Hall of Famer to Houston and gave him his own team. Harden turned the Rockets back into a contender, but they always fell short against Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
Morey and Harden broke up in 2020, but the Sixers were rumored to be interested before the Rockets sent their superstar to Brooklyn. Things with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving did not work, so the Nets put Harden back on the market, and he wanted to join his old friend in Philadelphia.
Harden lasted just one full season before the drama returned. He accused Morey of lying to him and swore off playing for him. Harden was traded to the Clippers in 2023. The Sixers recouped most of the assets they gave up but wasted two years of Joel Embiid’s prime. It was certainly a miss and may have allowed Philly to acquire a better fit next to their superstar.
The pressure is on Daryl Morey this offseason. If he cannot make them a title contender, Embiid may request a trade and send the Philadelphia 76ers into crisis mode. It is fate everyone hopes to avoid, but Morey most of all. The president of basketball operations better not add any moves to this list or it could create chaos in Philly.