The Philadelphia 76ers are undergoing what seems like a massive overhaul. Once famous, or rather infamous, for their efforts to tank and secure high draft picks in a style that became known as “The Process,” it seems that the team is now moving away from that under new management.
It started with general manager Sam Hinkie resigning and being succeeded by Bryan Colangelo, hired after his father Jerry Colangelo had assumed duties as the chairman of the organization.
The changes seem to be bleeding into the on-court product as well with multiple reports stating that the team could move on from head coach Brett Brown either this summer or sometime next season. The likely candidate to replace him: Mike D’Antoni who was hired as the associate head coach of the team immediately after the first Colangelo hiring.
Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that that decision could hinge on whether D’Antoni gets interest from other teams such as the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets:
if D’Antoni, the Sixers’ associate head coach, gets offers elsewhere — besides Brooklyn, he could be a fit in Washington or Phoenix — then Colangelo may be tempted to let Brown go and bump D’Antoni up to head coach in order to keep him, sources say. Ownership may have other ideas, remaining firmly supportive of Brown.
Tom Moore, meanwhile, reports that it is all but a done deal with the only question being the timeline during which Brown is fired:
The source called it “50-50” that Brown is the head coach to start the 2016-17 campaign, but believes there’s only a 20 percent chance Brown finishes next season in that capacity.
The source expects associate head coach Mike D’Antoni, who was hired by ex-Sixers chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo in December, to succeed Brown.
The first source said Jerry Colangelo, who stepped down as chairman the day Bryan was hired and is now a special adviser to managing owner Josh Harris, didn’t like it when he found out Brown’s two-year extension was a done deal upon joining the franchise Dec. 7.
This seems like a very fluid situation. Brown has not amassed a great record (understatement of the century) in his first stint as an NBA head coach. But he has also been under the influence of an organization that has actively tried to lose. Despite a lack of talent, Brown has still done some great things with the teams he’s been given. Moving on from him without giving him a chance at a real roster seems very reactionary and ill-advised.
It will be an interesting summer in Philadelphia.
