10-28-2020, 12:24 PM
Quote:Former Rockets general manager [b]Daryl Morey[/b] is close to joining the [b]Sixers[/b] to oversee basketball operations, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Morey will sign a five-year deal by this weekend, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
[b][b]Elton Brand[/b][/b] will likely remain as GM after Morey joins the organization, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link). Morey and Brand will serve as a “1-2 punch” in the front office, sources tell David Aldridge of TNT (Twitter link).
Morey spent 14 years in Houston before parting ways with the franchise two weeks ago. Negotiations with Philadelphia began shortly after he left the Rockets and escalated in the past few days, according to Wojnarowski. Morey will become the team’s new president, and he has a strong relationship and history with new coach [b]Doc Rivers[/b] (Twitter link).
In Houston, Morey developed a reputation as a financial innovator and a risk taker who was known for constantly pursuing star players. He helped to revolutionize the Rockets as a small-ball team that relied heavily on shooting three-pointers.
In Philadelphia, he will try to build a winner around [b]Joel Embiid[/b] and [b]Ben Simmons[/b], but he will face immediate challenges, points out Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). The Sixers have $120MM committed next season to four players: Embiid, Simmons, [b]Tobias Harris[/b] and [b]Al Horford[/b]. Morey will likely work to shake up the roster during the offseason and will have picks No. 21, 34, 36, 49 and 58 to offer in this year’s draft.
Rockets owner [b]Tilman Fertitta[/b] recently said he expected Morey to eventually wind up with an East Coast team. Philadelphia received permission to talk to Morey two years ago and reportedly made an offer, but he elected to remain in Houston.