Daryl Morey Stands Pat at Deadline, Still Believes in Sixers’ Contender Status
While the NBA trade deadline saw a flurry of activity from Eastern Conference contenders, the Philadelphia 76ers chose a different route. General Manager Daryl Morey, known for his aggressive approach to roster building, didn’t bring in any new players-but he’s not losing sleep over it.
After sending rookie guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for future draft capital, Morey made it clear: he still believes in the Sixers’ current group and their ability to hang with the best in the East.
“We like our chances in the East. We feel like we’re in the mix with the top teams there,” Morey said.
“Obviously, we have to prove that on the court. We were hoping to add, but we didn’t add.
But we still believe in this team.”
That belief comes despite a wave of headline-grabbing moves from other Eastern Conference rivals. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the biggest splash, acquiring future Hall of Fame guard James Harden.
The Boston Celtics added veteran big man Nikola Vucevic in a deal that sent Sixth Man of the Year candidate Anfernee Simons to Chicago. Even the Cavs weren’t done-shipping Darius Garland to the Clippers and bringing in Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder from Sacramento in a separate trade involving De’Andre Hunter.
But Morey isn’t exactly shaking in his boots.
“Folks have speculated on the improvements of our East competitors. I don’t see it, personally,” he said.
“I think all the teams made moves at the deadline. But there weren’t any needle movers in my opinion.”
That’s a bold stance, especially in a conference where the margin for error is razor-thin. The Sixers currently sit at 29-22, sixth in the East, just a game behind the fifth-place Toronto Raptors. With Joel Embiid anchoring the paint and Tyrese Maxey continuing to blossom into an All-Star-level guard, Philly’s core remains intact-but the path to the top is crowded.
The departure of Jared McCain, however, did raise some eyebrows. The rookie had shown promise, and his exit came as a surprise not just to fans, but to McCain himself.
“No, not at all,” McCain said when asked if he saw the trade coming. “We were all on the bus to the airport, and I just got a call.
Daryl Morey says there weren’t any ‘needle movers’ involved in any Eastern Conference trades at the deadline 😬
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 6, 2026
“Folks have speculated on the improvements of our East competitors, I don't see it personally… There weren’t any needle movers in my opinion.”pic.twitter.com/EnFNTV83V6
I had no feeling. I didn’t think it was going to happen, to be honest.
There was nothing, and I got the call, and just went and told everybody. I went to Tyrese [Maxey] first, and it was pretty emotional.”
McCain also took a moment to thank the city of Philadelphia in a heartfelt Instagram post, showing maturity beyond his years.
“Philly, I’m so grateful for everything-the love the city showed, my teammates and staff becoming family. It will always be a home for me,” McCain wrote.
“Incredibly blessed to be drafted here. So much more to say but just want to say thank you, Philadelphia ❤️💙.”
As for what’s next, there’s no official word yet on when McCain will make his Thunder debut. Oklahoma City faces the Rockets on Saturday, and it remains to be seen whether the rookie will suit up.
For the Sixers, the message is clear: the front office is betting on continuity, chemistry, and internal growth rather than a midseason shake-up. In a league where splashy trades dominate headlines, Philly is putting its chips on a different kind of gamble-stability. Whether that pays off come playoff time is a question that only the hardwood can answer.