The Philadelphia 76ers' season came to an end on Sunday when they lost by 30 to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of their second-round series. The sweep extended their Eastern Conference finals drought to 25 seasons and ultimately cost president of basketball operations Daryl Morey his job. Nick Nurse will retain his job as coach.
Morey's inability to win in Philadelphia was largely due to Joel Embiid's health problems. Over Morey's six years in charge, the Sixers went 270-212 (.560 winning percentage) during the regular season and made the playoffs five times, but only won four playoff series and never made it past the second round.
Embiid appeared in 281 of a possible 482 regular-season games during Morey's tenure and was not fully healthy in the playoffs a single time.
Search for Morey's Replacement
Former Golden State Warriors executive Bob Myers, who is the president of sports at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, will be in charge of the search for Morey's replacement. The group that owns the Sixers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils will oversee basketball operations in the interim.
As the Sixers chart a new course forward, it's fair to wonder if Embiid will remain part of their plans.
Embiid Acknowledges Uncertain Future
Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has spent his entire career with the Sixers. Over the last 12 years, he's grown from a raw but extremely talented prospect into one of the best players in the world. He won the 2023 MVP, has made seven All-Star Games, five All-NBA and three All-Defensive appearances and won two scoring titles.
Along the way, Embiid nicknamed himself "The Process" to pay homage to the team's years-long rebuilding strategy under former executive Sam Hinkie and has become an icon in Philadelphia. But very few players spend their entire career with one team anymore.
Embiid is under contract through 2028, with a player option for 2029. The only way for him to leave Philadelphia before then would be via trade.
"I don't even know if I'm gonna be here. But whatever happens happens. For me, I'm excited about really getting back to myself," Embiid said after the season-ending loss on Sunday.
Why Embiid Would Be 'Tricky to Trade'
Embiid is one of the most talented players in the league and a beloved figure, but he's also owed a lot of money and has struggled to stay on the floor in recent years. Trading him would not be an easy decision.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer: "Embiid's incessant availability issues have rendered him tricky to trade." The Sixers would likely need to attach assets to any deal, which becomes more difficult given how teams value future first-round picks for lottery purposes.
"No surprise, then, that I've been advised to expect no definitive effort this offseason to try to offload Embiid. No matter who is in charge," Fischer reported.
He played just 38 regular-season games this season and 96 regular-season games over the last three seasons.