How Tyrese Maxey Changes Daryl Morey’s Trade Plans for 76ers

Is Daryl Morey still star-hunting for the 76ers?

On Friday, the NBA reached a key date, which is sure to kickstart trade negotiations among organizations. As always, the Philadelphia 76ers are viewed as a team that will be active in discussions, as Daryl Morey is typically one to make a move or two before the deadline kicks in.

That day is still months away, but the Sixers likely already shifted their direction while navigating through the growing trade market. After the Sixers cut the cord with James Harden just three games into the regular season, they landed four expiring contracts in Nic Batum, Marcus Morris, KJ Martin, and Robert Covington.

In addition to the veterans they acquired, the Sixers collected some draft capital as well. When Morey initially acknowledged the state of the James Harden saga prior to its conclusion, he didn’t want to part ways with the ten-time All-Star unless another All-Star came in return.

Of course, there was a Plan B, though, which the Sixers executed. From the jump, Morey’s plan was simple: Land players and picks that could be flipped for an All-Star caliber player. However, a different path could be explored at this point, thanks to the fourth-year emergence of Tyrese Maxey.

The State of the Sixers’ Stars

Every season since joining the Sixers in 2020 via the 21st overall pick, Tyrese Maxey has improved his production offensively. After coming off the bench for 53 games during his rookie effort, seeing the court for fewer than 20 minutes per outing, the outlook on Maxey was that he was a young prospect with intriguing potential — but he surely needed to work out some kinks — specifically with his shot from beyond the arc.

In his sophomore effort, Maxey improved in every way. He became a full-time starter, averaged 18 points per outing, and knocked down 43 percent of his threes. By year three, it was clear Maxey was a starting-caliber player in the NBA and potentially a future All-Star. He wrapped up the 2022-2023 run by averaging 20 points while shooting 43 percent from deep.

For the second time in three years, a trade request put Maxey in a position where he had to take on more responsibility. Not only did he need to score more, but the young guard was expected to improve in the playmaking department as well. 

Through his first 23 games of the season, Maxey has averaged seven assists while turning the ball over fewer than two times per game. Along with his improved passing, Maxey took another jump with his scoring, accounting for a career-high 26 points per game. 

When Maxey improved in his first two NBA seasons, Daryl Morey was pleased but not surprised, as improvements are necessary for any player looking to make something of themselves in the big leagues. What Maxey has done beyond the 2021-2022 season, though, has been hard to overlook.

“Having big leaps in year three and four, that is pretty rare,” Daryl Morey said on Friday. “Obviously, his age profile is that, but it’s really been his work ethic. I do think, like his time, obviously, we’ve had some turnover with other key players on the team. Not only is he putting in a lot of work on his own in the gym in the offseason, but he also picked up a lot from his teammates, and I think he really incorporated that into his game and had been great.” 

Changing Directions 

Harden was viewed as Joel Embiid’s co-star over the previous season and a half, while Maxey was seen as a complementary piece. Initially, Morey might’ve been hesitant to simply slide Maxey into the void Harden would leave, leading the Sixers’ President to go star-hunting amidst Harden’s trade request.

Then Maxey got off to a scorching hot start…

“[Tyrese] playing like clearly the second-best player to an MVP-level guy does change how you look at things and does make you say it’s much easier to find guys who can help in that context,” Morey explained. “Finding the second-best player on a title team, generally, you can’t do. You have to draft them like we did, or you know, it’s a pile of assets like what I’ve done in my past where we just traded everything. It does open up a whole bunch of avenues to upgrade the team that wouldn’t have been there if Tyrese wasn’t making this leap that we hope he can make.”

What’s on the Shopping List?

Morey likely isn’t opposed to landing one of the big fish on the market if the price is too good to pass up, but there won’t be any overpays for a player that doesn’t significantly boost the team’s odds of winning the title as early as this season.

The Sixers will shop around the market, seeking players to complement the pieces that Nick Nurse has found early success with so far.

“I do think some depth at the big might be helpful,” Morey claimed. “I do think some depth at guard.”

Heading into the 2023-2024 season, the Sixers were loaded with depth at the five spot. Behind Joel Embiid, the team employed Paul Reed, Montrezl Harrell, Filip Petrusev, and Mo Bamba. Since the summer, they lost Harrell to an injury and traded away Petrusev in the Harden blockbuster.

As for the backcourt, the Sixers employ one true ball-handler behind Maxey and De’Anthony Melton in the veteran Patrick Beverley. While they’ve thrived with what they have at the moment, there is surely room for improvement in the playmaking department behind Maxey and Melton.

In past seasons, the Sixers were viewed as a team that needed to improve its wing depth. Clearly, Morey has his sights set elsewhere these days.

“Surprisingly, given this offseason, for a while, it looked like our wing depth wasn’t going to be there,” the President of Basketball Ops said. “The Clippers trade obviously helped that quite a bit. I think we’re shored up pretty well there.”

Patient as always, Morey isn’t looking to pull the trigger on anything too early. And now that the Embiid-Maxey-led Sixers have proven to pose a threat in the Eastern Conference, a potential trade acquisition would have to match very specific criteria for Morey in order for him to shake up the roster.

“We're obviously, always looking for those real key difference makers, who can really move the needle and give us even a better chance against the other top teams in the East and in the NBA,” he finished.