Courtside with Aaron is a regular sports column that focuses on professional basketall coverage.
“This off-season was fun LMAO” Joel Embiid tweeted sarcastically, accurately expressing the feeling of all Sixers fans across the world after watching two of their biggest competitors significantly improve their rosters while Philly’s front office was relatively stagnant, despite James Harden requesting a trade dating all the way back to late June.
NBA’s media day was October 2, and it is typically a great time when fans get to see their favorite players back in uniform, ready to take on the court and compete. NBA fans got to see Damian Lillard in a Bucks jersey for the first time, Kristaps Porzingis in a Celtics Jersey for the first time, Chris Paul in a Warriors jersey for the first time and the list goes on of players in new destinations.
However, media day for the Sixers had a different tone to it. This is due to the fact that while their competition improved, they have been struggling to find a deal for Harden that would also keep them in championship “contention,” and I say “contention” lightly.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, along with general manager Daryl Morey, were first to speak to the media. Morey began the press conference, seemingly out of breath as if the elevator was broken and he had to run up 10 flights of stairs, talking about absolute nonsense with no substance behind it.
“I understand there’s a lot of skepticism out there right now, I would say that in years where there is a lot of optimism, you would say ‘yes there is a lot of optimism but show it in the regular season, show it in the playoffs,’” he said. “Obviously, we came up short, but in a year where there is a lot of skepticism, I think I would ask the same thing. Let us show you in the regular season and in the playoffs.”
First, he sounds like me during a fishbowl discussion, talking about a book I haven’t read. There is no substance behind what he is saying, especially since Sixers fans have allowed the team to “show them in the playoffs” and every year over the past five seasons it has been the same result, second-round exit.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, but fool me five times!? I’m done with having expectations for the Sixers at all, let alone without knowing what the roster is gonna look like in two months’ time. And it better not still have Harden on it, because we all know how James Harden plays when he doesn’t want to be part of the team, he will force you to either trade him or bench him completely. And you really think this is the way to respond to your superstar, your reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who has been through two disasters at this point and is visibly upset with how you’re handling things?
Take Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks for example. Giannis for months has been hesitant to sign a contract extension with the Bucks because although he wants to be paid, he is not interested in playing if he is not competing for a championship. And what did the Bucks front office do to respond this offseason? They only went out and acquired Damian Lillard, who is arguably a top 10 player in the league when healthy, making the Bucks now favorites to win the championship this season. Even during media day, Giannis made it clear that he was unsure whether he would sign an extension with Milwaukee because he wants to keep his front office on their toes and giving their best effort to the team, and they have been.
Former 2019 NBA Champions Toronto Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse, sat beside Daryl Morey during media day.
“I’ve had a really enjoyable start here to the summer, and a positive one,” said Nurse. “I’m sorry but there is no way that Nurse has enjoyed his time in Philadelphia this far.
Let’s not forget that Nurse was offered a head coaching position by both the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks, two teams who have a much better chance of winning a championship than the Sixers as the roster currently stands.
Another situation that is flying under the radar for the Sixers is Tyrese Maxey’s contract extension. Maxey will be a restricted free agent in the 2024 off-season, and he more than deserves a max contract from the Sixers, especially since he was arguably the second-best player on the team in the playoffs last season. Tobias Harris will be an unrestricted free agent next season, a player who arguably has one of the worst contracts in the entire league.
To keep it concise, the Sixers have a lot of big decisions to make between now and the 2024 off-season, and I’m not sure it is a great idea to have Daryl Morey making those decisions.
And yes, I know Harden returned to training camp, I couldn’t care less. Even if Harden plays for the Sixers at all this year, it will not be enough. If James Harden giving full effort last season wasn’t enough to get out of the second round, Harden giving half effort is definitely not going to be enough.
