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Sixers news: Embiid carefully weighs in on trades; Daryl Morey to speak; reaction and opinion

The Sixers didn't add any players, but traded away Jared McCain and Eric Gordon to get under the luxury tax.

Daryl Morey, the Sixers president of basketball operations, will speak to reporters Friday.
Daryl Morey, the Sixers president of basketball operations, will speak to reporters Friday. Read more
Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
What you should know

  1. Daryl Morey, the Sixers' president of basketball operations, will speak to reporters Friday after making no additions to the roster at the trade deadline.

  2. The Sixers traded away Jared McCain, their 2024 first-round pick, and Eric Gordon for a handful of draft picks. By shedding the salaries, the Sixers were able to avoid the luxury tax.

  3. The Sixers trading Jared McCain will either be a head-scratcher or an embarrassment, writes columnist David Murphy.

  4. Joel Embiid's reaction to the Sixers' trade deadline moves was very diplomatic.

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Daryl Morey to speak with reporters Friday

Daryl Morey, the Sixers' president of basketball operations, will speak to reporters Friday afternoon after the team made no additions at the NBA trade deadline, not even to fill in during Paul George's 25-game suspension.

Morey is scheduled to speak at noon at the Sixers' training facility in Camden, N.J.

On Thursday, the Sixers traded Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies in a salary dump. Wednesday they parted ways with Jared McCain, the 2024 No. 16 overall pick. In exchange, team landed a bunch of second-round picks and the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick.

Sixers standings and upcoming schedule

With three games left before the All-Star break, the Sixers are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, solidly in the playoff picture after missing the postseason last season.

Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers certainly didn't help, breaking a five-game winning streak. They'll face the second-place New York Knicks on Wednesday, who added former New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado to their roster at the NBA trade deadline.

Eastern Conference standings

Joel Embiid carefully comments on Sixers trade deadline moves

LOS ANGELES — When asked to assess the 76ers’ approach and execution at the trade deadline, Joel Embiid kept his words politically correct.

But his multiple pauses to look to his right at a team public relations staffer observing his postgame media session — not out of nervousness, but as if this was the way he could make his desired point — spoke volumes.

“The only thing I’ll say, I believe in myself,” Embiid said late Thursday, after the Sixers dealt guards Jared McCain and Eric Gordon and did not add any players. “I believe in Tyrese [Maxey]. I believe in everybody in this locker room. But the main thing is I believe in myself.

Sixers awaiting additions after subtractions

The shaping of the 76ers took a step backward this week … perhaps just momentarily.

The team moved on from Jared McCain, a fan favorite and 2025 Rookie of the Year front-runner, and seldom-used veteran guard Eric Gordon before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. In return, the Sixers acquired a first-round pick, three second-rounders, and a second-round pick swap.

Shedding those players’ salaries gives the Sixers just over $7.6 million in cap space under the first apron. That means they can sign players on the buyout market in addition to using up to $8 million in a trade exception to acquire a player.

Jared McCain trade looks bad on paper

Sixers president Daryl Morey is scheduled to meet with the media on Friday, so we’ll have to wait to hear the official defense of the team’s decision to trade 2024 first-round pick Jared McCain to the Thunder for what is most likely to be a low-value first round draft (plus the obligatory smattering of second round picks). We don’t have to wait to judge the optics of the thing.

The optics are poor, and will remain true even if the thing ends up making more sense than we can immediately glean.

The Sixers didn’t trade McCain for a player who is more likely to help them contend for championship, be it this year or beyond. They didn’t trade him for a pick that they then flipped for a player who can help them capitalize on their momentum this season. Everywhere else, teams got better, and many of them did so in ways beyond this season. The Timberwolves can re-sign Ayo Dosunmu. The Pacers can pair Ivica Zubac with Tyrese Haliburton next season. The Sixers can hope that a late first round pick is worth something in June.