What are Daryl Morey, Sixers looking to add in the buyout market?

President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey gives a little insight into what the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for in the buyout market.

PHILADELPHIA — The trade deadline has passed, leaving NBA teams to look to the buyout market to make improvements.

The Philadelphia 76ers will be a team to keep an eye since they still believe they have a chance to compete for a title. Of course, that depends on the health of Joel Embiid, but as long as the big fella is out there, the Sixers will always have a chance.

At the moment, the Sixers are relying on Paul Reed and Mo Bamba to fill in for Embiid. However, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey stated he was looking for a backup center at the deadline.

“We did go in saying ‘Let’s see if we can shore that up depth-wise’,” Morey said. “Especially, with we have some period with Joel out where depth-wise, we’re a little short. There really were no bigs traded. I was shocked by that. We were aggressive to do that, but they just weren’t available so it didn’t happen. We’re gonna have to continue to be creative.”

Considering Morey was thinking big man leading up to the deadline, one has to believe he will look to the buyout market for one now.

“There are, obviously, a bunch of players available in the buyout market,” Morey stated. “I think that position has been lighter than others. Look that’s why I mentioned that we’re probably going to have to get creative. We love what Paul and Mo bring, but I mean, obviously, after just one or two teams recently, we’ve probably been the most injured or sick team in the league.”

Morey is correct in that the Sixers have been dealing with a lot. They have had to battle through adversity not only to Embiid, but to Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton and others. That adds to Morey’s buyout market thought process.

“We also would like to bring in another player,” he finished. “I can see us bringing in a player, but I don’t see it as someone you would expect to play a huge role necessarily.”

The Sixers have three open roster spots after the flurry of deadline moves. The open spots help Philadelphia’s flexibility as Morey looks ahead to the summer and the new league collective bargaining agreement kicking in.

“We like having open roster spots, whether it’s for players who might become available,” Morey continued. “Even signing young players to favorable deals is a smart move, I think, if we can do it. A lot of our moves are for planning in the new CBA environment, which I think is very impactful, and setting ourselves up for those big moves in the future.”

In terms of setting the Sixers up better than other contenders around the league to make a move in the buyout market, Morey feels confident.

“So these are all these new rules coming in — limits your draft picks, limits your abilities in free agency,” he finished. “All these things are coming. We’re the best set up of any of those teams that are contenders, by a good margin.”

From the way Morey is talking, it sounds like the Sixers could make a move rather soon.

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