We will have to wait until next spring to find out if these are master strokes but Daryl Morey will not have waited long to mark his territory at the Sixers. New president of the franchise, the former strongman of the Rockets took advantage of the Draft to set up two exchanges, and he removed a big thorn from the side of his team by ridding them of Al Horford’s contract. More than a year ago, Elton Brand broke his piggy bank to afford the Celtics’ interior: 109 million over four years.
Result: an incompatibility with Joel Embiid and a big flop. With Al Horford at 34 and still $ 70 million guaranteed until 2023, the Sixers were tied hand and foot.
Except Daryl Morey is a specialist in large-scale trades, and he managed to send Am Horford to OKC, encrusted in the trade between the Lakers and the Thunder. He was forced to drop draft rounds and pick up two players (Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson) but it’s a great operation. Firstly because Danny Green is a shooter / defender and the team needed him, but also and above all because he is in his last year of contract. The Sixers will be able to position themselves on the next offseason.
“Having a real top-notch shooter changes the dynamic for Ben and Joel”
Better, Daryl Morey also managed to remove another thorn, smaller, with the contract of Josh Richardson, which was to touch 22 million over two years. Arrived from Miami a year ago in Jimmy Butler’s sign-and-trade, the full-back / winger didn’t have much of an influence on the Sixers’ play, and Daryl Morey sent him to Dallas in exchange of Seth Curry, the son-in-law of Doc Rivers, but also one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. Stephen’s brother still has three years on the contract, but less than $ 9 million a year.
« We arrived with the objective of improving our financial flexibility. The first exchange allowed us to do the second with Seth Explained Daryl Morey, who cannot mention Al Horford and Danny Green as the exchange is not yet formalized. ” If we had not made the first exchange, the second would not have been possible. Having a real top-notch shooter changes the dynamic for Ben and Joel. »
That’s why the Sixers were determined to get back one of the best in his field, Seth Curry. It will be perfect to take over the old role of JJ Redick, as a rotation behind Ben Simmons and therefore Danny Green. ” It was really the theme of the evening » poursuit Daryl Morey. « By recovering Seth, we can say that he is the best shooter in the NBA. It’s really exciting. »
