Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has never shied away from revisiting past decisions – even the more scrutinized ones – with a clear-eyed perspective.
As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, there’s a possibility the Sixers could lose their first-round pick, depending on how the lottery unfolds. The selection, which is top-six protected, was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a 2020 move to unload Al Horford’s sizable contract.
Despite the potential cost, Morey stands firmly by the decision, pointing to the short-term success the deal helped deliver.
“First off, I feel very good about that trade because it put us in a great spot,” Morey said. “We were the one-seed going into the playoffs that season. Now, that was before Coach [Nick Nurse] came on board, but a one-seed usually gives you a 40 to 50 percent chance to reach the Finals. That’s real value.”
The trade also brought veteran wing Danny Green to Philadelphia, who played a key role during the team’s playoff run. Morey noted that although Seth Curry came to the Sixers via a separate trade, the overall flurry of moves at that time was strategic and impactful.
“So, I feel good that we got good value out of that trade. Danny Green was great for us,” he said. “It was part of a bigger plan.”
If the pick lands outside the top six this year, it will convey to Oklahoma City. If not, the pick will defer to 2026 with top-four protection, and again to 2027 under the same terms.
Should the pick still not be conveyed by then, the Thunder would instead receive a second-round selection in 2027.
Yet Morey isn’t dwelling on what might be lost – he’s more focused on what the Sixers have regained.
In a recent trade that sent Caleb Martin out in exchange for Quentin Grimes, the Sixers also managed to re-acquire their own 2025 second-round pick – an asset Morey considers quite valuable.
“That’s going to be a tool for us,” he said. “We’ve got a 64 percent chance to have a high pick in this draft, and that’s another tool. If you look around the league, teams that go all-in like we did and then have a tough year, they usually come out of it with no draft capital. We’re in a much stronger position.”
Morey emphasized that, unlike many aggressive contenders who mortgage their futures for immediate success, the Sixers still have flexibility.
“We’ve got above-average picks, young talent, and cap flexibility,” he said. “We’ve got a full set of tools in our arsenal to upgrade the team. Most teams in our position – coming into the year with the third-best title odds, having a rough season – they’re usually stuck. We’re not. We’ve got options.”
He also praised head coach Nick Nurse for the progress made with the team’s younger players, suggesting that internal development, combined with savvy roster management, positions the Sixers well for a bounce-back season.
“There’s a lot of confidence in what we can do going forward,” Morey added. “We’re not boxed in. We’ve got room to maneuver, and we’re going to use that to get better.”
Daryl Morey Has No Regrets About Trading Pick To Move Al Horford Contract https://t.co/2yXXj5lEjf
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 4, 2025
