Whatever happens 76ers fans should prepare for another “Process”
Daryl Morey has a very difficult job this summer. There are many reasons for that and some of them are his personal responsibility. My Mom used to say that if you were frustrated with your current situation turn around and look at your steps. You will be able to see exactly how you got there. The 76ers organization made a lot of decisions before Morey and after that will determine one eventuality, there will have to be another “process”.
I’m begging that when it happens the Process Truthers don’t bring back the term. Bury it. Burn it. Whatever happens this off-season we can clearly see that believing that losing so purposefully for years failed. It may have failed because of poor drafting decisions and guys like Ben Simmons flaking out, but it hasn’t yielded fruit. You keep exiting in the second round and now the alarms are sounding.
Doubling down on guys like PJ Tucker with Patrick Beverley and the potential of James Harden returning means Matt Cord is going to have to do the team intros over the Golden Girls Theme. When teams get desperate, they make questionable decisions. An aging NBA roster is rarely the recipe for success. If the 76ers decide to “roll it back” in 2023 they will ask you to believe in their short-term vision. I’m never into short-term views on business or sports.
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The latest drama for the 76ers surrounds pursuing Damian Lillard. He’s made it known through his representatives that he wants to play for the Miami Heat. He has said publicly before that New York or Miami were places he would be intrigued to play. The Blazers don’t need to care about what Lillard wants as he doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. They are going to get the best deal possible. That may be an acquisition of Tyrese Maxey and more in return for Lillard. That’s another 10+ years added to your roster. It’s a breathless attempt to get something out of the last few years of the prime of Joel Embiid. Could it work? Sure. Does it have the DNA of a smart plan? I doubt it.
I doubt it because it would involve believing that Joel Embiid would somehow not be limping through the first-round playoff series again. Is it his fault that he’s always hurt? No. Is it something that is less likely to happen as he ages? No.
I doubt it because I believe James Harden won’t all of a sudden put things together over a 4 series playoff run. Whether he runs out of gas or he just doesn’t thrive in the bright spotlight I’m not sure. I do know the personal and team results speak for themselves. We also know he had his contract power play top of mind, more than winning a championship, as his Christmas Day placed Woj bomb stands as evidence.
Most of all, I want players who want to be here. Maxey wants to be here. Lillard doesn’t want to be here. It’s time the 76ers thought about building a team that is all in. That means being all in on Philadelphia too. Whatever the results on the court a rebuild is coming soon. Remember, the guy in charge of the 76ers isn’t having a long-term view either. It’s not in our best interests. Unless of course these moves finally create a parade. Count me among the doubters.