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Here’s how the 76ers can get back to top of the East

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Here’s how the 76ers can get back to top of the East

How far are the Philadelphia 76ers away from competing for an Eastern Conference title?

Far enough that they fired firmer president of basketball operations Daryl Morey on Tuesday, May 12, a move that came two days after the New York Knicks unceremoniously dispatched them in a sweep with an average margin of defeat of 22.3 points.

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On the surface, the Sixers have some elite pieces that make them competitive in any given game. But the roster has some serious holes and there are a pair of cumbersome contracts that restrict the team’s flexibility.

So as Bob Myers, the architect of the Golden State Warriors’ four most recent NBA titles, conducts a search for Morey’s replacement, there are clear steps that need to be taken to return Philadelphia to the top of the East. Frankly, many of those steps require undoing some of the mistakes Morey made.

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The largest problems are the contracts of center Joel Embiid and forward Paul George.

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Embiid’s three-year, $192.9 million extension, signed in September 2024, kicks in at the start of the new league year. It carries a player option for 2028-29 and essentially pays Embiid, who will be 35 by the time the deal expires, an average of $62.6 million each season.

That’s just the going rate for a former Most Valuable Player and seven-time All-Star. The issue is that Embiid, as hard as he might have worked on his body and health, simply has not been available; over the last three seasons, Embiid has played just 96 of a possible 246 games, or 39%.

When Embiid is healthy and on the floor, he continues to be a matchup nightmare with his strength, shooting and ability to get to the line. But it’s difficult for a team to maximize its roster when so much of the salary cap is devoted to a player who misses as much time as Embiid.

It gets worse with George. He just turned 36 and is under contract for next season, with a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28. And although George had a decent stretch in the postseason, it’s simply too rich a deal for a player with that level of production.

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The best course of action would be for the next president of basketball operations to try to offload one of those contracts, with George being the most favorable to move; despite his health issues and lack of consistent availability, Embiid is simply a more proven difference maker.

Focus on depth and development

Then there’s the issue of depth. Coach Nick Nurse shrunk his rotation down to eight men, and part of it was out of necessity. Some of Morey’s moves — trading second-year guard Jared McCain to the Thunder for three second-round picks; cutting Julian Champagnie to make room for Mac McClung; cutting Isaiah Joe to clear a spot for Dwayne Dedmon — robbed Philadelphia of young (read: cheaper) players who can fill out a roster and contribute.

This postseason, McCain and Joe are playing key reserve roles for Oklahoma City and Champagnie has been a steady starter for the Spurs.

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The McCain move is particularly painful, as he had flashed promise in his rookie year before injury derailed his season. Would McCain, Joe and Champagnie won the Sixers the series against the Knicks? That’s extremely unlikely, but developing incumbent players and getting them to produce is the sign of a healthy organization. Put another way: the next president of basketball ops needs to restock the bench.

The 76ers' VJ Edgecombe (77), Tyrese Maxey (0) and Dominick Barlow (25) celebrate after defeating the Boston Celtics, 117-116, at TD Garden on Oct. 22, 2025.

The 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe (77), Tyrese Maxey (0) and Dominick Barlow (25) celebrate after defeating the Boston Celtics, 117-116, at TD Garden on Oct. 22, 2025.

It’s not all bad news. Guard Tyrese Maxey, a two-time All-Star, is one of the game’s premier shooters and scorers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe has all the makings of a stellar two-guard.

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The 76ers, however, should try to find a point guard to facilitate offense for Maxey, who struggled against New York when the Knicks were able to blitz him when he had the ball in his hands. Allowing Maxey to play off the ball more should open up his game, and the offense, overall.

The 76ers are in that wasteland in the middle of the East, the purgatory of being good but obviously not good enough. The positive is that they have a path forward.

Now all they have to do is hire the right person to lead the franchise.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What’s next for Philadelphia 76ers after firing Daryl Morey?

Read the full article here

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