The Philadelphia 76ers and Daryl Morey agreed to “part ways” Tuesday, marking the franchise’s first major offseason move. The organization will simultaneously search for Morey’s replacement while preparing for the NBA Draft and potentially drastic roster changes, as the Sixers currently have just six players on guaranteed contracts for next season.
After Morey’s exit, what’s next for the Sixers? Where does the franchise go from here?
Philadelphia announced that former Golden State Warriors executive Bob Myers will take over on what is expected to be an interim basis and will lead the search for Morey's replacement. Myers held various executive positions during the Warriors’ dynasty run, which included five consecutive Finals runs, six total Finals appearances and four championships.
Myers could likely have the position if he wanted, but his role frankly extends beyond basketball these days. His current position as President of Sports for Harris Blitzer is above that of the President of Basketball Operations.
While he will oversee operations for a time, he is relied upon for more than just the Sixers, serving as a close strategic advisor to Josh Harris and Harris' Washington Commanders. It would be a surprising decision if Myers ultimately filled the open position, especially as the team's wording in their announcement was pointed, but surprises are nothing new for this franchise.
As for potential candidates to replace Morey, there is no shortage of options.
Elton Brand is the most prominent internal name to be considered for the position. He has a long history in Philadelphia, joining the franchise as a player from 2008 through 2012 and coming out of retirement to return in 2016 as a veteran presence for the process Sixers. He would retire again later that year and become a player development consultant for the team before being promoted to the general manager of the franchise’s G League team, the Delaware 87ers — now Delaware Blue Coats. Brand would again be promoted in 2018, becoming the Sixers’ general manager and the team’s primary decision maker.
In this role, Brand notably facilitated trades for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, signed Al Horford and led the coaching search and hiring process that brought Doc Rivers to Philadelphia shortly before Morey’s arrival. He was previously a candidate for the Atlanta Hawks' lead executive opening, but later withdrew his name for consideration.
Brand has been lauded for his relationship management skills, a trait that many have suggested Morey lacks and one that he shares with Myers. Internally, there is no word yet on Brand’s status within the organization as they look for a “fresh start,” in the words of Harris. That will likely be clarified on Thursday as Harris and Myers address the media.
Externally, the Sixers have no shortage of potential options. Among the names expected to receive consideration are Vince Rozman, who spent 16 years with Philadelphia’s front office before joining the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022 as their Vice President of Identification & Intelligence. Rozman was heavily involved in the Sixers draft process and now leads the Thunder’s draft process while also working in player development evaluation.
Matt Lloyd was a finalist for the Chicago Bulls’ recent vacancy, which was ultimately filled by Bryson Graham, formerly of the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans front office, rising from an intern in NOLA to now a first-time lead executive. Currently, Lloyd is the general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but is considered among the top names to soon lead an NBA front office. Like Graham, Lloyd climbed the organizational ladder, joining the Bulls in 1999 as a member of their communications department before moving into a scouting role, then joining the Orlando Magic, and later Minnesota in 2022.
Dave Telep is yet another rising name to watch as he continues to garner interest from around the league. Telep joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2013 as a scouting coordinator, was promoted to director of scouting, then to player personnel, became the vice president of basketball operations in 2022, and the team's assistant general manager in 2025. Playing a role in the Spurs' draft selections throughout his time with the franchise, Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper have been clear hits, but they've all been drafted within the first four picks of their respective drafts. San Antonio's draft record is otherwise a bit mixed, but it does include several notable late-draft hits, including Derrick White, Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson.
If the Sixers are looking for an experienced replacement for Morey, Dennis Lindsey will be among the most relevant candidates. Lindsey has notable stops with the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and, most recently, the Detroit Pistons throughout his front-office career. His time leading the front office of the Utah Jazz is his most prominent body of work, guiding the organization to five consecutive playoff appearances and overseeing the end of the Al Jefferson-Paul Millsap era and the inception of the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era of Jazz basketball. In recent years, Lindsey has played a crucial role in the Detroit Pistons impressive turnaround from perennial disappointment to the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Myers and the Sixers will work to move forward and find a new lead executive, but there could be even more drastic changes that may or may not wait for the arrival of Morey’s replacement.
Joel Embiid’s “I don't even know if I'm going to be here” quote from his end of season press conference made its rounds, despite it being an inclusive way to talk about the uncertainty around the team, but in the wake of Daryl Morey’s exit and the organization clear efforts to reshape the franchise around Tyrese Maxey, the possibly of the team moving on from Embiid holds more weight than it once did.
Embiid’s previous security was largely due to the remaining $187M-plus he is set to receive over the next three seasons, but as the Sixers look to make dramatic changes, the team may decide it’s in the organization's best interest to fully commit to its future, no matter the cost.
Jake Fischer of the Stein Line reported from the Draft Combine in Chicago that an Embiid-for-Domantas Sabonis swap has been theorized by rival team strategists, but he would go on to clarify that such conversations being a ”longshot might be underselling it.”
Still, that speculation by those in front offices across the league gives insight into the current value, or more accurately, the cost, of trading Embiid at this time. If the Sixers find a team that is the right combination of interested and desperate, the team may at least be willing to consider. It would be a bold move for a front-office decision-maker in their first year with the team, but if such a move had the approval of the top of the organization, it would become more feasible.
Regardless, the most likely team for Embiid for the 2026-27 season remains the Sixers, as the list of potential suitors is presumed to be short.
The Sixers have recognized that they have reached an impasse in several respects. The struggles the team faced with the constant uncertainty of their lineup and playstyle, combined with the inner turmoil of the locker room at various points throughout the season, cannot be attributed to any one individual, but the team has already begun embracing change for the sake of their vision.
To that point, Paul George’s future is not set in stone either.
George’s Sixers tenure has been messy but has also included some impressive highs, including his constant work developing young cornerstone VJ Edgecombe and his elevated play following his 25-game suspension. Those highs have not only caught the attention of his Sixers teammates but also reportedly teams around the league.
From his debut with the Sixers last season through his suspension, George has averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 42.7% from the floor and 36.7% from three in 68 games. In the ten games between his return and the end of the regular season, he averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, while shooting a far improved 47.2% from the field and 41.5% from three. George’s numbers dipped slightly in the playoffs, but not in three-point efficiency, where he knocked down 49.3% of his shots from beyond the arc.
As for what exactly George’s value across the league is, that remains speculative, but despite his contributions to Edgecombe’s development, he remains the more likely candidate to be moved in comparison to Embiid, specifically due to his perceived higher market value.
Daryl Morey’s departure may only be the beginning of sweeping changes for the Sixers, as the franchise has begun to more purposefully transition from the Joel Embiid era to the Tyrese Maxey era.
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