Daryl Morey Teases Huge Sixers Move After 1st Round of Draft
By Joe Summers
![Dec 15, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers resident of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey speaks with the media before a game against the Detroit Pistons at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Dec 15, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers resident of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey speaks with the media before a game against the Detroit Pistons at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5138,h_2890,x_0,y_84/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/190/01j1d7kpc1fmc9ak4hyk.jpg)
Daryl Morey never hides from his desire to go big-game hunting and recent comments indicate the 76ers plan to be aggressive following the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Philadelphia selected Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain on Wednesday night, adding a valuable floor-spacer who made 50% of his three-pointers during the NCAA Tournament. The 76ers have the 11th pick of the second round (No. 41 overall) and plenty of cap space, giving Morey ammo to make a move whether via trade or free agency.
As he tries to build a championship-caliber roster, Morey sounds ready to go all-in.
Daryl Morey Sounds Ready for a Splashy Move
“We are planning on being the best team in the east next season” up there with the Boston Celtics.
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 27, 2024
Sixers President Daryl Morey tonight sounds like he has a big free agent plan after drafting Jared McCain out of Duke pic.twitter.com/P92DLVuLgm
If Morey intends to be the best team in the Eastern Conference as he claims, he needs to get to work. The Celtics boast the NBA's deepest roster and Morey wouldn't declare these intentions without planning something big.
Two-time champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be an option, as could stars like Paul George or Brandon Ingram, though Morey didn't discuss specifics. Based on Morey's history and ongoing concerns about Joel Embiid's health, I'd guess the 76ers prefer to land an elite player.
Their interest in George has reportedly waned, though someone like Ingram could ease Embiid's scoring load while helping Tyrese Maxey as a playmaker. As nice as quality role players would be, Philadelphia's priority should be getting Embiid to the postseason healthy. That means the team needs high-usage guys, not complementary pieces.
McCain projects as a helpful rotational player whose shooting should get him on the floor right away. Morey's work isn't finished though, and 76ers fans can expect him to be active in the coming weeks.
Philadelphia currently has the second-best odds to land both Paul George (+400) and Brandon Ingram (+450) at DraftKings Sportsbook, implying a 20% chance to acquire George and an 18.18% chance at Ingram.
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