The staff takes the time to reflect on the disaster that just happened and what’s next moving forward
Well, it’s safe to say that didn’t go according to plan.
Right before the beginning of the season, I asked the LB staff for their predictions and takes on the 2024-25 Sixers season. Under the assumption that the team would actually be healthy enough to take the court, it’s fair to say that we got a lot of things wrong.
So, I decided to torture my colleagues again, this time letting them reflect on what fell apart over the last nine months, as well as their thoughts on what should happen in the immediate future. Without further ado, here’s what our staff had to say about it all.
Health aside, who do you blame the most for this season? Why?
Bryan Toporek: Daryl Morey and the Sixers’ front office. They knew the risks of building around three max players under the new CBA—namely the restrictions they’d face when assembling the supporting cast—but they went ahead with it anyway. In his end-of-season press conference last year, Morey expressed his confidence in the front office’s ability to find guys “that are overlooked” like Kelly Oubre Jr.
To their credit, they did hit a home run with Guerschon Yabusele this offseason. However, they otherwise overindexed on experienced veterans such as Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond with the playoffs in mind. That proved costly once injuries began to mount and they weren’t able to scale up.
After the season ended, Morey acknowledged that he erred in that approach. He pledged that the Sixers would become “younger” and “more dynamic” next year to help them survive the 82-game grind of the regular season. If he follows through with that strategy, at least this season wouldn’t be a total waste from a long-term perspective.
Erin Grugan: It’s hard to pick a specific person because I think there’s systemic issues running throughout the front office of this team. I have to go with Morey, if I’m going to blame one name, because this outcome of this season was not some huge unforeseen disaster, it was a completely-predictable disaster that was allowed to happen by Morey deciding to build a team that relied almost completely on the health of guys like Joel Embiid and Paul George (who are historically not healthy consistently). Plus, with their contracts, the team was hamstrung to give them a supporting cast, which resulted in bringing in players like Drummond, Jackson, Lowry (sorry Coach Lowry)…
Not a huge surprise that the strategy didn’t work.
Paul Hudrick: Health was the biggest issue, but if we put that aside, it has to fall on Morey. He assembled a team around two oft-injured players and surrounded them with aging players. Morey himself has already admitted this was a mistake — and already began rectifying it at the trade deadline. Morey hit big on Yabusele late in the summer, but whiffed on basically every other free-agent signing. Cycling out the oldies for more dynamic players is the only path moving forward.
Harrison Grimm: It has to be the guy at the top, right? Morey put all his eggs into the 2024 free agency basket — and for the most part, it didn’t pan out. Their marquee addition, George, struggled when he was available, which wasn’t often. Caleb Martin looked like a shell of himself and spent most of the season sidelined. Drummond, another key signing, was unplayable more often than not. At the time, all of these moves were widely accepted and even praised. But with the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear they didn’t work out — for reasons both within and outside of the Sixers’ control. And all of that is a tough sell when you spend an entire season optimizing flexibility.
What surprised you the most about this season?
BT: It’s a tie between Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes. I figured McCain would be on the fringes of the rotation as a mid-first-round rookie on a win-now team. In no way did I imagine him becoming the Rookie of the Year front-runner before he suffered his meniscus injury in mid-December. He went from a 10th/11th man to a possible long-term starter next to Tyrese Maxey in the span of roughly one month.
The same goes for Grimes, who figured to be a nice ancillary piece of the rotation when they acquired him at the trade deadline. However, injuries gave him an opportunity to flourish far more than expected. I don’t expect him to be a 20-plus-points-per-game scorer if the Sixers are ever fully healthy, but between Maxey, McCain and Grimes, the backcourt seems to be a clear strength of the Sixers for the first time in a long, long time.
EG: The depths of despair one could reach with a basketball team that was claiming to be championship contenders in the preseason. OK, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. I didn’t quite think they were contending for a championship before the season started, but I just didn’t expect it to be so painful to watch at times.
PH: In the pleasant surprise category, it has to be the play of McCain and Grimes. I liked both players before they were Sixers but both were revelations during a miserable season. Aside from those two, Justin Edwards and Adem Bona’s progress was a nice boon. Both players could factor into the team’s future plans.
On the negative side … the injuries. My goodness. Whenever it felt like it couldn’t get any worse, it did. It was also surprising to see how long Embiid and George continued to play when it was clear neither guy was healthy and both were actively hurting the team. Hopefully that’s a lesson learned for 2025-26.
HG: It’s the Sixers’ 2024 rookie class — and honestly, I don’t think it’s close. It starts with McCain, who wasn’t just a productive player but arguably their best player when he was on the floor. Most expected him to be a good prospect heading into the year, but I’d be lying if I said I saw this level of production coming in Year 1.
Then there’s Bona, who developed from a project big into someone who thrived during the Sixers’ late-season tank stretch. He wasn’t just serviceable — he was often one of the better players on the court. It’s rare to see noticeable rookie-year growth, and I certainly didn’t expect it from Bona. Props to him for maximizing the opportunity.
Finally, there’s Edwards, an undrafted free agent. After a rough year at Kentucky, many of the issues that plagued him there have seemingly disappeared at the NBA level. He defended better than expected and, just as importantly, gave the team a wing who is a willing and confident shooter. Overall, the Sixers went 3-for-3 in a relatively weak draft class — without even having a lottery pick.
Huge credit to the scouting department.
What about this season disappointed you the most?
BT: Never seeing what this team could do fully healthy. Even if they managed to stay healthy, I’m not sure that they would have been on the OKC/Boston/Cleveland tier, but it’s hard not to feel like this season is a total waste since we never saw the full-fledged version of this squad. Even when Embiid played, he was clearly a shell of his former self physically.
At least that gives us something to look forward to next year? (Until one of them gets hurt in training camp, of course.)
EG: For me, it’s not the injuries that disappointed me but the handling of the injuries to guys like Embiid, George and Maxey that really disappoints me. We will likely never know what went on behind the scenes to make the decisions made this season, but there’s a plethora of questionable ones to scrutinize. Having Maxey and George out on the floor, both visibly hobbled by injuries, weeks after the season was realistically lost. The entire Embiid saga of playing two games at a time before his knee would swell again (after years of already questionable injury management). Take your pick.
PH: Yes.
HG: The Sixers made a point to add proven veterans to their rotation — names like Lowry, Jackson and Gordon. Not only did they underwhelm, but they were a major reason the Sixers couldn’t stay afloat through the wave of injuries. Morey has since gone on record saying we’ll see a younger, more versatile roster built around the Sixers’ core. If he sticks to that plan, I think it’ll make a huge difference — both on the court and, frankly, from a watchability standpoint as well.
Which non-McCain surprise do you think will have the biggest long-term impact?
BT: I’m not even convinced that Yabu is back next year, so I’m ruling him out immediately. As solid as Edwards looked late in the season, the clear answer has to be Grimes here, right? I’d imagine he’s the front-runner to start alongside Maxey next season, while McCain can serve as a super-sub/potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate off the bench.
EG: I’d like to see it be Grimes. He came into a team in complete disarray, with weeks of meaningless games (minus the tank) to play in when the Sixers’ season was already realistically over. Yet, he came in with confidence and a clear desire to prove himself as a player and a teammate, even if the games meant nothing. His attitude and play during that slog to end the season is exactly what you want from a young player that could become a leader in your organization down the line if he stays long enough and continues to develop.
I’m excited and curious to see him play some games with some actual weight to them, but the potential has certainly shown through.
PH: The obvious answer is Grimes, but I’ll also put Edwards into that conversation. It’s not often big wings that can shoot and defend fall into your lap. It’s even less likely those wings were once considered one of the top recruits in the country. If Edwards is just a slightly improved version of the player he was this season, that would be fantastic for the Sixers. But I think he might have even more to offer.
HG: Dare I say that Bona could have the biggest long-term impact? A lot of people tuned out of the Sixers towards the end of the season (and for good reason). Because of that, many might not realize just how impressive Bona was when given the opportunity. Sure, the games weren’t exactly high-stakes with the team tanking, but the Sixers have been searching for a long-term solution at backup center since Embiid first arrived. As a second-round pick, many saw Bona as a raw center with great physical potential but in need of development. And while it’s true that he needed time to adjust, the version of Bona we saw towards the end of the regular season was noticeably improved. He kept his fouls in check and capitalized on the increased offensive opportunities, even setting a career-high 28 points in one game. Embiid, as we all know, is a major question mark moving forward. Having Bona as a backup — or even as a potential starter — isn’t just a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Draft pick aside, what moves do you want to see made this offseason?
BT: No. More. Old. Guys. I’d also like the Sixers to explore all of their options with the taxpayer MLE rather than handing it to Yabusele before free agency even begins. One agent told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that he’s preparing his clients for a “free-agent recession” because few teams are projected to have cap space this summer. Are we sure that Yabusele is the best that the Sixers can do with their $5.7 million MLE?
Last offseason, Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Tyus Jones all ended up settling for one-year, veteran-minimum contracts. Some veterans are bound to get priced out this offseason, too. That’s where I’d like to see the Sixers pounce. (Jake LaRavia is one of my favorite theoretical targets, especially since the Kings are limited in how much they can offer him.)
EG: Please stop signing guys in their 30s. I’m begging.
PH: I don’t have any specific players or moves at the moment, but I would say that Morey should trust his scouting department to find more guys like Oubre and Yabusele and less players like Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson. It seems like Morey has already acknowledged this as the path going forward. They’ve crushed the draft in recent years and they’ve done a great job finding undervalued players. Lean into that.
HG: It might not be the most exciting move, but trading Drummond is pretty high on my list. He’s almost certain to opt into his $5 million player option, which could make him a useful piece in a salary-matching deal. If the Sixers can’t find a worthwhile return, they could simply dump his salary — opening up more opportunities for Bona (who could be even better next season) or for any new additions. It would also give the team extra flexibility to either pay Grimes or retain Yabusele.
If they do keep the pick, what would you like to see them do with it?
BT: If they get the No. 1 or No. 2 pick, the decision seems pretty straightforward (take Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, respectively). If they’re anywhere in the Nos. 3-6 range, they should explore all of their options—trading up, trading down or trading out of the draft entirely.
EG: Don’t trade it for a “star” in his 30s. It sounds like a joke but it’s not, because Morey would do it. I don’t care if the Sixers get 1st overall or 6th, I would rather see them take a chance on the young talent towards the top of this draft than take that pick and trade it to someone else for some aging “established star”. It doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked. It’s not going to start working.
I don’t know that the Sixers are one first-round pick away from a huge turnaround as a team and organization by any means, don’t get me wrong, but I desperately want to see a shift in this front office’s strategy away from trying (and failing) to plug and play random 30-year-old players into this squad. It’s shortsighted in a way that also doesn’t even work in the short-term.
PH: Take the best player available at whichever pick they get. Don’t overthink it. Again, drafting has been a strength of this front office. Trust your scouts and don’t focus at all on fit. If they decide to trade the pick, they should only do so for future draft capital, not any type of win-now player (unless a superstar in their 20s somehow becomes available).
HG: Over the past month, I’ve spent a ton of time analyzing prospects with my colleagues here at LB, so I’ve put a lot of thought into this question.
In my view, there are four prospects who are worth taking with little hesitation: Flagg, Harper, Ace Bailey and V.J. Edgecombe. Each brings something different to the table, but based on talent alone, any of them would be a strong pick.
Of course, as many know, the Sixers’ pick could fall outside the top four — which makes things a bit murkier. There’s a noticeable gap between four and five, where players like Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Jeremiah Fears are likely to be in the mix. I have some serious fit concerns with Fears, though he might be the best player available at that point. Knueppel would add another smart shooter to the roster, but there are legitimate questions about his ceiling. Johnson is a fascinating prospect with the potential to develop into several different types of players, though some worry about his limited impact outside of scoring.
Bottom line: If the pick lands in the top four, I think they should keep it. There are names outside that range who could help, but it would be tough to find a veteran in a trade who could offer more long-term value than Flagg, Harper, Bailey or Edgecombe. However, if the pick falls to the five or six range, I’d be much more open to exploring the trade market for veteran additions.
Obviously Embiid is a huge question mark, but how much hope do you have for a Paul George bounce back?
BT: I’m cautiously optimistic, albeit only to an extent. I don’t think George suddenly lost his battle to Father Time between last year and this year and is now completely washed. The injuries he dealt with throughout the season undoubtedly contributed to his mediocre production. If he stays healthier next year—and Embiid can stay on the court as well—a bounce back should be well within reach.
With that said, George turned 35 on May 2 and has missed at least 20 games in five of the past six seasons. The Sixers need to build the rest of their roster with the expectation that he’ll miss at least that much time each year moving forward.
EG: I have more faith that he can bounce back than Embiid right now. George was playing All-Star level ball before this season (that was derailed by injuries before the regular season even started). I think if he’s able to stay on the floor, he’s able to get back into that groove. It is a little concerning to see him having visibly hyperextended the same knee twice this season, and it’s something I hope doesn’t develop into a long-term issue with stability in the knee. But if his knee can hold up and he doesn’t fall victim again to really unfortunate luck as well (like the pinky injury), I think George still has the potential to bounce back quite easily next season.
Enough to justify the contract the Sixers gave him in his mid-30s? Well, I’m not going to go that far…
PH: It was a rough year for George. Sure, he signed a max contract and that will provide generational wealth for his family, but he’s still a human. He moved his wife and kids across the country and had to learn a whole new organization and teammates. His best teammate and one of the biggest reasons he came to Philly started the year on the shelf. Then he had trouble staying healthy himself. You could sense all year that George and Embiid were putting pressure on themselves to play when the other was out or not feeling 100%.
I always point to the stretch George had in January to have any type of optimism. He was at his healthiest and was playing efficiently offensively and was impactful defensively. Is that version of him worth a max deal? Debatable. Am I optimistic the now 35-year-old can remain healthy enough over the course of a season to provide the team that version of him? I honestly don’t know.
If he’s healthy, I think George can still be an impactful two-way wing. But that staying healthy thing has proven to be quite tricky.
HG: I think I’m more optimistic than the consensus when it comes to Paul George. Yes, it was a rough season from just about every angle. But I don’t believe PG was ever truly healthy during the regular season. He dealt with multiple leg hyperextensions, a finger injury, and likely other issues that weren’t publicly reported. It’s clear he played through a lot.
Assuming he can stay healthy — which admittedly is a big “if” — I think we’ll see a version of PG next season that’s much closer to what was advertised. He showed stretches of strong defense this year, and I believe he still has more to offer than what we’ve seen so far in a Sixers uniform.
How do you think Quentin Grimes will fit in with the real version of this team, assuming that exists?
BT: I’m more optimistic about it than Georges Niang is, that’s for sure!
Assuming the Sixers re-sign him, I’d imagine he’ll have the inside track to the starting 2-guard job. His size and point-of-attack defense make him a more natural complement to Maxey than McCain is. The offense still figures to primarily run through the Big 3 (when healthy), but Grimes’ ability to serve as a secondary creator should take some pressure off George and Embiid in particular. Maxey, Grimes and McCain should be the main facilitators on the team, creating more catch-and-shoot opportunities for George in particular.
EG: Grimes is someone that I think can genuinely be a large part of the next “real” version of this team. Well, the version of the team I hope for, which includes more reliance on younger guys like Grimes alongside Maxey or McCain getting to become more creative playmakers and run the show a little more. I think that strategy has a lot more potential short-term and especially long-term than the current status quo of “Maxey brings down the ball and has to force it to Embiid or George every possession” (assuming the “Big 3” of them even play games together… it was rare this season).
PH: Great. What makes Grimes such a great fit is that he’s proven to be scalable. When the team has all its stars healthy, Grimes can be be a reliable spot-up shooter and a demon defensively. When the team is down a guy or two (or more) Grimes showed that can he can create shots and carry the offensive load for stretches of games. He’s an ideal two guard playing next to Maxey and/or McCain.
HG: The Sixers have deserved plenty of criticism over the past few months, but I think Morey absolutely nailed the addition of Grimes. I see him fitting in perfectly as a defender. While he doesn’t rack up big steal or block numbers, he stays attached to NBA guards and can hold his own against some wings as well. Offensively, it’ll be interesting to see how they use him. Nick Nurse experimented with putting the ball in his hands late last season and has hinted we could see more of that next year when Grimes plays alongside Maxey and McCain. He’s already proven he’s a more than capable shooter and can make plays when chased off the three-point line. Overall, it’s hard to imagine a better glue guy to slot between Maxey, George, and Embiid.