The Sixers are reportedly talking to former NBA coach Mike D’Antoni about becoming an associate head coach. D’Antoni has a long relationship with Jerry Colangelo, who joined Philadelphia’s front office this week. With Colangelo and D’Antoni working together both in Phoenix and with USA Basketball, this is an early sign that Colangelo is exerting his newly acquired influence.
D’Antoni has been a head coach with the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks and Lakers, but he doesn’t seem to be a threat to current head coach Brett Brown, who agreed to a two-year contract extension on Friday. Brown is now signed through the end of 2018/19 season, and the front office has expressed support for him despite a 38-149 record since taking over the job before the start of the 2013/14 season.
The Sixers talk often about “trusting the process,” but there are indications that fans, players and even the league is becoming frustrated with the team’s non-competitiveness. The presence of Colangelo in the front office and D’Antoni on the bench would be signs that patience with the process is wearing thin in some circles.
So here’s the topic for today’s Shootaround: Are the Sixers in danger of having too many competing voices, both in the front office and on the bench?
Will Colangelo take too much of the decision making away from GM Sam Hinkie? And would D’Antoni be an experienced complement to Brown or would he give Sixers players the sensation of having two head coaches?
Please share your thoughts and opinions on the subject in the comments section. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.
As far as the coaching question, you can never have too many talented people on the bench. MDA being there in any capacity could only be a good thing for this struggling team. They should jump on this, and enjoy the experieince, as its only a matter of time before D’Antoni would accet a head gig elsewhere, a la Alvin Gentry with Golden State, or even Thibs when he was with Doc in Boston. What alternative would be a preferred? A less experienced associate head coach? Come on now….
No doubt at all. At the end of the year Hinke will be gone and replaced by Brian Colangelo. And then in 3 years when they sign a bunch of veterans, trade our big men assets for 3 hybrid point-forwards, and go 37-45 and place 8th in the Eastern Conference Josh Harris will sell the team for a 300% profit and we’ll be back to rebuilding with a new “TrustTheProcess”.
If you don’t have a star or two, what’s more attractive than an NBA team that’s making money in a big market and has a stock piles of assets for the next owners to do as they please. I believe the rumors of the owners selling might have legs.
As for Hinkie, he gets at least this season and next. It’ll take that long to build a real NBA roster, albeit a losing one still. No established GM is going to take that job until then.
I like the Colangelo hire, but D’Antoni? The Sixers should hold off until after the season. Hiring a guy who hasn’t been an assistant in 11 years at midseason would be a jarring move to that locker room. Sure, the locker room could probably use a jolt, but I don’t think this is what they want to be looking for.
To me, It looks like the team gave Brown an extension to smooth over the hiring of D’Antoni. I don’t mind the move, but once this team is expected to improve (maybe even as early as next season), Brown’s going to be looking over his shoulder.
As far as The Process, the plan is still on. Midseason shake-ups often don’t work out right away. If the new additions bring turmoil to the team and they don’t show any indication of heading in the right direction, doesn’t a high lottery pick still come their way. It seems like they’ll still tank, but perhaps not be as blatant about it.