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Will Daryl Morey bring the Houston Rockets East to Philadelphia?
Morey served as the Rockets’ general manager for 13 seasons before being hired as the 76ers’ president of basketball operation in November 2020.
Then, in July 2021, former Rockets CEO Tad Brown was hired for the same position by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which oversees the Sixers, New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, and Morey acquired the former Houston star James Harden a blockbuster trade from the Brooklyn Nets on February 10.
Now the executive is pursuing former Houston power forward PJ Tucker, league sources confirm. Sources have also said the Sixers are seeking a three-team trade that could involve Matisse Thybulle and the No. 23 to make room. Sources have said the Sixers are trying to trade Tobias Harris but are having a hard time getting teams to accept his lucrative contract.
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However, it was announced on Monday that Tucker would turn down his $7.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season with the Miami Heat to become a free agent. Multiple sources say the Sixers intend to offer him a three-year, $30 million deal. Time will tell what will happen. But a source added that there is a mutual interest between Tucker, 37, and the Sixers.
Things could change before free agency begins June 30 at 6 p.m., but league executives believe there’s a good chance Tucker will be a sixer.
Right now, the Sixers don’t have the space available to sign him for $10 million a season. As a result, they would have to make room to house his salary.
But there has been league-wide gossip recently about the Sixers’ interest in Tucker, though one person close to the Sixers refutes what league sources say.
Teams may not negotiate with free agents until the start of the free agency period. All discussions in advance are considered manipulation.
However, the Sixers could be trying to make some things work with the three-team trade. The Sixers are looking for a third team to ease the trade. In order to get Thybulle and the first-round player, Sixers sources are asking a third team to give up a first-round pick in order for the deal to work.
The Sixers have said they want to keep their core players — Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Harris and Harden — intact. However, league sources say the team is looking for suitors for Harris, who has two years and $76.9 million left on his contract.
Harris, a power forward, could be expendable if the team acquires Tucker. While not ideal, the pairing could work if Harris slips to small forward depending on matchups.
Tucker would defend the opposing team’s best forward. But Harris being bought in could have more to do with the Sixers wanting his salary cut rather than passing.
The Sixers are also buying Shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz and Danny Green.
Despite his age, Tucker is a solid defender who excels at three corner points. His acquisition would allow Embiid to grant his wish.
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Following the Sixers’ loss to the Heat in the second round, Embiid opened up about his desire to play with someone like Tucker.
“He’s just physical and he’s tough and they have a couple of these guys,” Embiid said. “Since I’ve been here, I’d be lying if I said we had guys like that. Nothing against what we have, it’s just the truth. We never have PJ Tucker. I’m really trying to say that.
“I think physicality, once you get to the playoffs or the later rounds, that’s what you need. You need those games, which are really tough.”
Tucker played 3 1/2 seasons in Houston before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19, 2021. He helped the Bucks win the 2021 NBA title before signing with the Heat in free agency last summer.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the Phoenix Suns and Sixers are potential suitors for Rockets shooting guard Eric Gordon, who has two years left on his contract. Gordon, 33, is set to earn $19.5 million next season and has a $20.9 million non-guaranteed contract in 2023-24.
