President Daryl Morey discusses whether the draft can help the Philadelphia 76ers right now as well as the growth of Ricky Council IV.
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to the offseason following a first-round playoff elimination at the hands of the New York Knicks.
They will be armed with significant cap space and other assets that could improve the roster and set up another run in the 2024-25 season.
At the moment, the Sixers have the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft and one has to wonder what President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey will do with that selection. Considering the Sixers’ timeline, one presumes he will likely shop the selection.
“Immediate help probably never comes in the draft,” Morey said. “Thereās really only something less than 10 but greater than five players picked in the range weāre picking in that are good in the first year. That said, we donāt really focus on the draft for help now. I do really love 16. The storylines have been that the draft is worse. I donāt see that at all. Actually, Iām very excited about whoās at 16. That said, as you might expect we have all options on the table: Trade into the future so that we can keep more picks available for future trades.”
Morey isn’t wrong. One would be hard-pressed to find a 16th pick who produced right away. The Sixers are at a stage where winning has to take precedence over everything.
“If we do pick, Iām excited about whoās there,” said Morey. “We could trade back, pick up a player. I do like having a good core of young players. I feel like weāre developing that with Paul (Reed) and Ricky Council. Hopefully, either the 16th pick or whatever pick we end up in the draft — I do think you want to have a few young players who are pushing your vets.”
While it is nice to have a young player — and there are some solid potential options at 16 — the Sixers have to focus on win-now players.
“Weāre mostly going to be a veteran-laden team after an offseason where thereās going to be a lot of change,” Morey said. “Except for Nick Nurse, Joel (Embiid), Tyrese (Maxey, and Paul and Ricky, we donāt know for sure whoās going to be back next year.”
Speaking of Council, the Sixers picked him up as an undrafted players and they were impressed with what he brought as a rookie. They converted his two-way deal into a standard NBA contract, though Morey knows he has a ways to go.
“With Ricky, the way these normally goes ā and we spoke to Ricky about this in his exit meeting ā is youāre first year, you almost have no chance,” Morey explained. “Especially, if youāre undrafted. You have to prove yourself in the G League which he did. The second year, you really have to focus a lot on what you need to improve, and if you do that, you then need to give a coach the reason to play you because youāre probably not going to play a whole lot even in your second year.”
Council took advantage of his opportunities and even changed games for the Sixers at times. The biggest example was an April 7 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He didn’t play for three quarters, but played the entire fourth and the two overtimes to help Philadelphia get the job done.
“I think with Ricky, it could be defense so I think as long as his defense is at a high level, that when we take an injury or something next year, and Nick is facing a really tough wing that weāre struggling to guard, he might go āYou know what, Iām going to give Ricky a shotā or itās multiple injuries like we had this year where heāll get a chance to play,” finished Morey. “Then, I think sometimes you grab that job and you never let go. So thatās how it can happen in year 2. Normally, itās a little more into Year 3, though, usually. Just given where he was drafted and whatnot.”
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