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The Philadelphia 76ers ended their 2025 season with the fifth-worst record in the NBA. That gives them a good chance at getting a high lottery pick. However, because of the Al Horford trade from 2020, the Sixers could lose that pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls out of the top six.
Despite how disastrously things could go for the Sixers in the lottery, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey explained why he had no regrets trading Horford when he did.
“First off, I feel very good about that trade because it put us in a great spot,” Morey told reporters, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. “It was before coach [Nick Nurse] was here, but we were the one-seed going into the playoffs. Usually, that gives you a 40-50% chance to make the finals. So I feel good that we got good value out of that trade.
“Danny Green was great for us. Seth Curry was [acquired in] a different trade. But anyway, I feel good about that.”
Morey’s not wrong. The trade got them out of Horford’s albatross contract. Even if Horford has played better since leaving the Sixers, he was a disaster in Philadelphia, and an expensive one. Getting out of that deal while getting good players and surrendering only one pick was worth it because the Sixers would be in a worse place with Horford had he stuck around.
In retrospect, this deal only looks bad in hindsight. Anyone in Morey’s shoes would have made the same trade back in 2020. Plus, if the Sixers get lucky on lottery night, then none of the criticism about the trade five years later holds merit.
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