The Philadelphia 76ers concluded their 2025 season with the fifth-worst record, positioning them well for a high NBA Draft lottery pick. However, due to the 2020 trade of Al Horford, they risk losing their pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls outside the top six. Daryl Morey, the 76ers' President of Basketball Operations, stands by the trade, citing its role in making the 76ers a top playoff seed and freeing them from Horford's costly contract. Morey believes the benefits gained, including acquiring valuable players like Danny Green, justified the decision despite Horford's improved performance elsewhere. The potential for lottery luck further mitigates concerns about the trade's long-term impact and critics' hindsight evaluations.

The Philadelphia 76ers ended the 2025 season with one of the worst records, which potentially gives them a favorable position in the NBA Draft lottery for a high pick, crucial for rebuilding the team.

Due to the Al Horford trade, if the 76ers' lottery pick falls out of the top six, it will be transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder, posing a significant risk for the team.

Daryl Morey, the team's President of Basketball Operations, defends the Horford trade by emphasizing how it helped the team become the top seed in the playoffs and increased their chances of reaching the finals.

Morey highlights the value of the trade in shedding Horford's expensive contract and acquiring players like Danny Green, even as Horford has shown improved performance with other teams.

Despite potential criticisms, Morey asserts that the trade was a strategic move that anyone would have made at the time, and should the 76ers secure a favorable lottery outcome, the trade's perceived negatives would be further diminished.

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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