Next Week’s Draft Gives Us First Look at New Front Office
With the 2020 NBA Draft coming up next Wednesday night, this is the first time the basketball world will see Philly’s new front office making roster decisions.
The Sixers hired Daryl Morey in late October as president of basketball operations. Morey and Elton Brand will be working together on transactions. Doc Rivers will probably have some say in those decisions, too. Morey let it be known during his introductory press conference that decisions will take collaborative efforts.
Fans have been curious since Philly’s season ended how the team will handle the roster. While bigger moves could take place during the free agency period after the draft, next Wednesday could give people a better understanding of what will come.
For example, last year, the Sixers moved up four spots in the first round to draft Matisse Thybulle. The team then traded away all of its remaining 2019 picks, because after Thybulle, Brand wanted as much cap space as possible to sign Al Horford and trade for Josh Richardson.
If something similar happens this year, it could again foreshadow the front office wanting room to change up some key roster pieces.
However, the Sixers don’t have to take that route. Philly currently has the 21st overall pick and four second-round picks. The front office could decide to keep most of the picks, in order to rebuild the team’s depth and add some young shooting to space out the floor. Even if the Sixers do this, they could still try and trade after the draft to swap in new starters who fit with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. It could be hard since the Sixers have some hefty contracts, but it’s still possible.
We don’t know how the new-look front office will handle the draft and free agency. They have several options, but this draft will be the first opportunity for Morey and company to bring back some optimism to Philly.
