The Sixers have made a multitude of changes to their coaching staff and front office since the offseason began. Doc Rivers came in after Brett Brown’s departure and with him came several high-profile coaches such as Sam Cassell, Dave Joerger, and Dan Burke. Daryl Morey will be joining Elton Brand and company in the front office as the organization’s new President of Basketball Operations.
The Sixers have previously been scrutinized for not having a clear voice running the team. Former Sixers such as Jimmy Butler and Trevor Booker have come out with criticism regarding the team’s lack of leadership. Elton Brand may have the title of General Manager but it was obvious that not all of the decisions the team has made were solely his.
It was essential that the Sixers make some changes to their franchise. Bringing in highly respected veterans such as Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey completely change the outlook of the team’s future. Had they stayed with the same leadership group, the Sixers would have risked becoming another mediocre-led team (cough…Knicks…cough).
Daryl Morey is one of the most successful executives in the league. He ran the Houston Rockets from 2007-2020 and had the second-most wins in the NBA during his tenure only behind the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets never had a losing record while Morey was in charge of things. He revamped the Houston offense over the years using his “Moreyball” system.
The “Moreyball” system puts a focus on 3 point shooting and layups while minimizing the mid-range jumper. He also did incredibly well in finding talent that the rest of the league may have undervalued. Morey has undeniably established himself as one the premier leaders in this league.
Doc Rivers joins Morey in Philly and automatically brings a sense of accountability and professionalism that the Sixers have previously lacked. Rivers has been a head coach in the league for 21 seasons with 3 different franchises including the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Clippers. Rivers won a championship with the Celtics in 2008. He was then traded to the Clippers in 2013 to coach the Lob-City era Clippers led by Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Despite never winning a championship with the Clippers, it is fair to say that he is largely responsible for the success they’ve had over the years.
Kawhi Leonard joined the Clippers last offseason in part because of the opportunity to play under Rivers. He has amassed a career total of 943 wins which is 2nd most among active NBA coaches. He also ranks 11th all-time in league history. Any star would consider themselves lucky to be able to play for such a decorated coach.
Along with Daryl Morey and Doc Rivers, the Sixers still have Elton Brand. The former number one pick was a 2x All-Star and an All-NBA Team member in 2006. Brand became the GM of the 76ers in 2018 due to his ability to connect to players and his overall likeability. He has good relationships with agents around the league and is widely respected by his peers.
A three-headed monster consisting of Brand, Morey, and Rivers is extremely dangerous for the rest of the league. They all have a successful track record and they’ve proven that they can attract big names. With them leading the charge, Philadelphia instantly becomes a top free-agent destination. Free agents from all over will jump at the chance to join an organization with such highly decorated people in charge. On top of that, they also have 2 transcendent talents in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. There is no reason the Sixers shouldn’t be able to attract whoever they target and that should be an extremely scary thought for the rest of the NBA.
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