Being a well-known dealmaker in the NBA, Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey keeps the team in trade rumors consistently throughout the year.
When the Sixers were entering the 2024 NBA Draft with a first-round pick in their possession, there was a league-wide assumption they could make a trade, rather than selecting a prospect. All paths were considered, but Morey and the front office were led to taking Duke’s Jared McCain.
Entering the 2025 NBA Draft with the third-overall pick, insiders are suggesting the Sixers are potential sellers in the trade market with their newest asset. However, Morey’s recent reveal suggests the Sixers are happy to be in their current position to take on a new rookie using the pick.
“At three, we feel very comfortable about the player who will be there,” Morey told 97.5 The Fanatic earlier this week.
The President of Basketball Ops would later elaborate on his current thinking.
“That’s the plan,” Morey said regarding making a pick. “I think, to get a high-upside player that we also think can contribute right away is a big deal. We feel like three is a great spot to be.”
Since Morey took over Philly’s front office in 2020, he’s made three selections in round one. Every pick was outside of the lottery, leading the Sixers to believe that contributing right away would be far-fetched, considering they viewed themselves as a win-now squad, who prioritize seasoned veterans.
Tyrese Maxey had a quiet rookie season but showed enough to win a full-time starting job in year two. Jaden Springer struggled to crack the rotation for several seasons before getting traded. Jared McCain benefited from a pile of injuries early on this past season and helped shift the front office’s view of rookies potentially being more impactful right away.
After failing to make the playoffs in 2025, the Sixers are keeping their expectations high in 2025-2026. Winning a championship is still the goal. While that adds pressure to an incoming rookie, the Sixers seem confident in their projections of the potential pick.
