76ers are Entering a New Era, and We Should be Excited: ‘We Owe it to You and the City to be Better’

The Philadelphia 76ers franchise made a clear message in letting go of President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey, despite surpassing all expectations going into this year:

Better is possible, and the team is going to do all they can to get to that next level.

Years of missing out on opportunities and falling short of expectations have been the story of this Sixers team in recent history. Philly has gone from losing over and over again with Sam Hinkie, dealing with the problematic Bryan Colangelo, watching a star-studded roster watch away under Elton Brand, and now witnessing the Daryl Morey era end still without making that championship leap. It has gotten to the point where Joel Embiid‘s prime has seemingly been fully wasted, and now the concern is if Philly can get over the hump in the Tyrese Maxey era.

Since being hired in 2020, Morey tried his best and did all he could with the resources he had to improve the team. Morey was not afraid to make big moves in his tenure with Philadelphia, including the acquisition of James Harden, trading Harden away for picks and veteran assets, signing Paul George, signing Embiid and Maxey to long-term extensions, and drafting Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jared McCain in his timeframe in the front office.

Now, of course, Morey had his issues with the Sixers. His trade sending Harden away gave the Sixers a few years of lackluster veterans who brought seemingly no value to the team. His extension of Embiid has the Sixers paying him almost $60 million per year for the next few seasons. Trading away McCain left Philly with no depth going into the playoffs and prevented any chance of getting to the conference finals.

Altogether, ownership finally realized that it was time to move on from Morey and start a new era in Philadelphia, with Josh Harris and Bob Myers leading the charge.

Harris and Myers, the founder and president of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, respectively, discussed in a press conference on Thursday the future of the team without Morey.

The two had much to say, but the highlights of the press conference should give hope to the Philadelphia faithful.

“I want you to know no one’s more frustrated than me that we haven’t achieved our goals,” Harris said. “I care deeply for the city and the team. I acknowledge how disappointing it is that we have not made it past the second round of playoffs. We owe it to you and the city to be better.”

For Harris to say this, even through all the turmoil and reasons for him not to care, means something more than fans may want to admit. Harris wants this team to go far, and is making it clear that he will do what it takes to get to the next level, even if that means dipping into the luxury tax.

Philadelphia, over the years, has seemed to have ducked the luxury tax over the years, choosing to lose valuable players just so a tax does not have to be paid by Harris. But Harris made it clear that he is willing to pay the tax if it means it will help the team win.

“The front office absolutely has the green light to go into the luxury tax,” Harris said. “In fact, we’ve been in and out of the luxury tax. It’s just not an issue.”

Knowing for certain now that the front office will have the ability to step into the tax if need be is a huge factor that cannot be glossed over. In fact, fans should have full confidence in the team’s willingness to do so after Myers explicitly stated that he would not have taken this job if it meant the team could not do all it takes to win.

Myers was the general manager of the Golden State Warriors during their dynasty, where they won the NBA championship four times from 2015 to 2022, including back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018. In his tenure, the Warriors made the finals five consecutive seasons from 2015-2019, and then went back in 2022 to win that fourth championship. If someone knows what it takes to win, it’s Bob Myers.

“To get put in this position is a privilege and an honor,” Myers said. “I take that very seriously.”

Myers will be the leader in finding a new President of Basketball Operations for Philadelphia and will be the interim in that role for the time being. When Myers finds a new person suitable for this role, he still will be heavily involved, stating that he will have phone calls with this person seven days a week and stay heavily involved in all processes, including free agency, trades, and the draft. Having Myers basically playing the role that Morey was in, even with whomever he brings in, is a huge positive for fans to look forward to in the front office. However, he still has to find someone for the role.

“I’m a big believer in character and leadership,” Myers said on what he’s looking for in the next President of Basketball Operations. “I’m looking for a person that embodies those things.”

Regardless of who ends up in Morey’s old spot, Philadelphia is in good hands, and the front office will be ready to make the right move, even if it’s aggressive. Fans have a lot to look forward to in the post Morey-era of 76ers basketball, and it is just getting started.

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