LAS VEGAS — The Philadelphia 76ers are continuing to push forward in an offseason where they have to make the right pieces around Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. The East will be wide-open in 2025-26 and they know it.

President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey knows that this is an offseason that if the right moves are made, the Sixers are right back in title contention after a miserable 24-58 season. If Embiid, George, and Maxey are healthy, the Sixers will have as good a chance as anybody.

The Sixers did lose a key piece to the roster in Guerschon Yabusele who was a real find for Philadelphia in the offseason. After five seasons overseas, the Sixers got him on the minimum and he produced 11.0 points per game. As an unrestricted free agent, Yabusele signed a 2-year $12 million deal with the New York Knicks.

With the Sixers having both Yabusele and restricted free agent Quentin Grimes to take care of, Morey unfortunately had to make a choice.

“Yeah, that sucked,” Morey said in Las Vegas on Friday. “Again, we got several questions on restricted free agency, I do think that overall structure played into that. We offered him the most we could that wouldn’t limit us and our ability to retain Quentin. That was above minimum. I’ve seen reports saying that that wasn’t, but it was definitely below what he got ended up getting.”

In terms of Grimes, the restricted free agent market has dried up. It appears he will be headed back to Philadelphia, but the two sides have yet to strike an agreement just yet. That side of things affected the Sixers’ ability to retain Yabusele as Philadelphia wants to give Grimes the offer he deserves.

“I think people have said like that created a challenge for us, and it’s true,” Morey added. “So we want to retain Quentin. We hope to work that out with his representation, and our focus was on making sure that happens. That did impact what we could offer Guerschon.”

As far as Grimes is concerned, Morey and the Sixers are just waiting to come to terms on an agreement as everybody moves forward.

“Yeah. I mean, we’ve had discussions and discussions recently with his representation, and we hope to work things out,” Morey finished. “I don’t have much more detail.”