Joel Embiid was ‘shocked’ with Doc Rivers’ firing amid trade rumors starting to loom over the 76ers star’s future, with reports also suggesting that James Harden could be on his way out of Philadelphia too.
‘I am here to tell you right now, Joel Embiid wasn’t happy that Doc Rivers got fired. Not from everything that I’m hearing, and I worked in Philadelphia for 17 years, and I still know a lot of people within the Philadelphia 76ers organization. I ain’t guessing. I’m telling you,’ said ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith ahead of the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Sixers GM Daryl Morey had been asked about Smith’s comments and the long-time NBA executive confirmed the center’s frustration with the decision.
‘They had a strong relationship,’ Morey said. ‘I have to make tough calls all the time with trades Joel was disappointed in… I think it’s natural to be very close with the people in the locker room. He was very close with coach Rivers and was shocked with the change.
‘It’s my job to help convince him that the new coach is someone he’ll have a great relationship with.’
Philadelphia center and franchise player Joel Embiid ‘wasn’t happy’ with Doc Rivers’ firing
Embiid was ineffective in Philly’s Game 7 loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals
Smith also suggested that Harden could be behind the Sixers hierarchy’s choice to part ways with Rivers and that the next head coach could determine Embiid’s future with the franchise.
‘If (Mike) D’Antoni is the next head coach because we all know that’s who James Harden wants, and Daryl Morey is the person in the position to give him exactly what he wants,’ Smith said.
‘If that were to transpire, imagine how ridiculous that is. Joel Embiid is the reigning league MVP, a 7-foot-1 behemoth of a man, one of the most talented big men we have ever seen. Clearly, the face of the franchise, but the franchise would be capitulating to James Harden.’
In order to seek pastures new, Embiid would have to submit a trade request to the 76ers front office, unlike Harden, who’s set to be a free agent this offseason. Philly’s big man has four years left on his current deal, including a player option and further turmoil in the City of Brotherly Love could test his loyalty to the Sixers.
The Knicks have shown interest in Embiid and have significant assets to trade for him but it’d only be seen as a potential destination for the 2023 MVP if he forces his way out of Philadelphia. If ‘The Beard’ opts to not pick up his second-year player option then he could return to the Rockets, even though the Suns have also shown interest.
On Tuesday, Smith touched base on the recent firings of several NBA head coaches since the postseason started in April.
‘If Mike D’Antoni ends up getting the 76ers job with Mark Jackson, Monty Williams, Nick Nurse, and Mike Budenholzer available – if Mike D’Antoni gets the job, if that happens – James Harden went and got Doc Rivers fired. Remember I said that,’ the ESPN NBA analyst said ‘First Take’.
‘We’re taking a careful process with the coach,’ Morey said about Rivers’ successor in Philly on Wednesday. ‘We do not think it will move quickly. We have to be careful with the process word but it is true.’
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith suggested Harden was behind the Sixers choice to dismiss Rivers
Smith claimed that if Mike D’Antoni is hired as Philly’s new head coach then ‘the franchise would be capitulating to James Harden’
Rivers led Boston to a championship in 2008 and was fired after three seasons with the 76ers. The team’s the Eastern Conference semifinals exit at the expense of the Celtics was the final straw, however.
Morey defended his performance as the one calling all the shots and said the franchise was in a better state than it was when he was hired in 2020.
‘I really enjoyed my time in Philadelphia – what a great city…’ Rivers said in a statement that he shared on his Instagram account on Wednesday.
‘We got a lot done in a short amount of time. I’d also like to thank the 76ers fans. Whew… you guys are tough, and I think you’ve learned I’m tough too. I absolutely love your commitment to the city and its teams – never lose that. I wanted, just as badly as you, to bring another championship to Philadelphia. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead, to learn, and to love this great city.’
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Philadelphia 76ers’ GM Daryl Morey defended that he’s the right man for the job despite maybe upsetting Embiid by firing Rivers
Morey credited the big games Embiid and Harden had in the playoffs but there was no denying the Game 6 and 7 collapses against Boston, as well as the ineffectiveness that both stars showed in the clutch, which pushed Rivers towards the exit.
‘We´re looking for someone who brings leadership and accountability, someone who is good at tactics, someone who has great relationships with his star players, and who someone who is good at recruiting star players and players want to play for, someone who builds a great organization,’ Morey said.
‘Frankly, I feel like I’m the best guy to lead the 76ers and ownership believes that,’ the Sixers GM added, defending his performance as the one calling all the shots since he was hired in 2020.
One way he tried to defer criticism was steering the narrative away from their second-round failures – the Sixers haven’t reached the conference finals since 2001 — and paint them as one of many talented teams that hasn’t won a title.
One more early exit and the first big press conference next offseason could be the one for Morey’s replacement.
