Lots of eyes are on the Philadelphia 76ers after a disappointing 2019-2020 campaign. After getting swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics, it was apparent changes needed to be made. Based on the moves of newly-hired president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, the 76ers are back on the right track.
Trading Al Horford
In 2019, Horford and the 76ers agreed on a four-year $109 million contract. The former All-Star big was expected to be a key contributor on a team with hopes to contend for the Eastern Conference crown. Horford has traditionally been at his best when playing center. However, due to the presence of All-NBA center Joel Embiid, Horford was forced to play power forward. Al was underwhelming for the 76ers during the regular season, as he averaged 11.9 points (the lowest since his rookie year) and 6.8 rebounds (second lowest in his career) per game while shooting 45% from the field (career low). Horford was even worse in the playoffs, as in four playoff games, Al averaged just seven points a game en route to a 76ers sweep. To say the least, Horford did not live up to his 28 million dollar annual salary in his first season as a 76er.
That season ended up being his last, as Al was moved alongside a first and second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Danny Green. Getting rid of Horford’s massive contract was a great move by the 76ers. In addition, since the team should be in playoff contention for years to come, that first-round pick they gave up likely won’t be valuable.
Acquiring Shooters
One thing has been obvious for a long, long time is that the 76ers need to surround Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid with shooters. It’s no secret that Embiid and Simmons are at their best when playing around the rim. Being surrounded by shooters makes life easier for both, as having shooters gives the duo space to work inside. As previously mentioned, the 76ers acquired Danny Green, a good shooter who has played a key role for the past two NBA champions, the 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors and the 2019-2020 Los Angeles Lakers. A career 40 percent shooter from deep, Green will more than serve his purpose as a catch-and-shoot threat. Additionally, the 76ers acquired Seth Curry, who averaged 12 points per game and shot 45.2% from three this past season; good enough for the third best mark in the entire league. These two new acquisitions will make life easier for Embiid and Simmons, the team’s two best players.
Drafting Tyrese Maxey
The 76ers drafted Tyrese Maxey with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Maxey excelled as a freshman in his lone season at Kentucky. He averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game with 43/29/83 shooting splits. Many scouts felt Maxey was worthy of being drafted inside the top ten, so the 76ers getting him at 21 was an absolute steal. Maxey is a dynamic player who is a very capable scorer. Playing alongside Ben Simmons will allow Maxey to focus on scoring rather than being a playmaker. Although his three-point shot needs work, Maxey could be an impactful player right away for the 76ers.
Conclusion
The 76ers are coming off a disappointing season, but they have the talent to put together a bounce-back season. Hiring head coach, Doc Rivers, a former NBA champion, will be an upgrade over previous head coach Brett Brown. The team’s new additions in Danny Green, Seth Curry, and Tyrese Maxey will also help dramatically. If all the new pieces can fit alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the 76ers could have a real shot at winning the Eastern Conference this season.
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