The Philadelphia 76ers are heading for a significant makeover after their first-round NBA playoff exit, with team president Daryl Morey acknowledging that “a lot of changes” are coming.
“We’re not going to have continuity,” Morey said Monday at the 76ers’ headquarters in New Jersey. “We’ll have continuity with our stars and our head coach, but we’re going to have a lot of changes this season.”
With approximately $65 million in salary cap space and a first-round draft pick, Morey is focused on building a championship contender around stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The majority of the team, including players like Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry, and Nic Batum, are out of contract.
“We’re focused on Joel and Tyrese, and we’re focused on now,” Morey emphasized.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Morey hinted at exploring free agency options, including potentially targeting aging stars like Paul George or LeBron James, who would need to decline player options to become available.
“You have to factor in the age,” Morey said. “We feel like we’re in the window where we have to win now. We’re mostly focused on getting the best players that fit with Joel and Tyrese.”
Embiid, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, will be 30 next season, adding urgency to the team’s championship pursuit. Morey acknowledged that managing Embiid’s playing time and finding ways to win without him are crucial.
“I feel like I could have done a better job with the players so that we were in a better spot to win without him,” Morey said. “That said, we do spend 90 percent of the time figuring out how to win the title with him. It can’t be a big focus, how we play without him. We know that team can’t win a championship. It’s really, how do we manage through it better?”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Maxey, a restricted free agent, is eligible for a five-year, $205 million contract extension. Morey praised Maxey’s growth and expressed confidence in his ability to continue improving.
“We should all learn not to bet against Tyrese,” Morey said. “A year ago, if we had polled everyone in the media or the GMs, it wouldn’t have been unanimous that Tyrese could take that step forward that we hoped he could.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The 76ers’ offseason promises to be busy, with Morey committed to building a championship contender. “I owe it to the fans, to ownership, to everybody, to get this team in a place where we’re competing for championships,” he said.
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