The Sixers hired USA Basketball chairman and longtime NBA executive Jerry Colangelo to serve in their front office. Colangelo will hold the titles of Special Advisor to the Managing General Partner and Chairman of Basketball Operations. Sixers GM Sam Hinkie will continue in his capacity in charge of day-to-day basketball operations, according to owner Josh Harris. Hinkie will still have the final say on personnel, though “a lot of collaboration and discussion” will be involved in the team’s roster moves, Colangelo relayed. “It’s not every day you have the opportunity to work alongside a Hall of Famer with Jerry’s unique set of experiences,” Hinkie said in the team’s statement. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our organization.” Colangelo built the Suns up from expansion as its primary basketball executive from its inception in 1968 until 1994. He has won the Executive of the Year award four times.
Here’s more from the week that was:
Signings
- Arnett Moultrie, who last played with the Sixers in 2013/14, signed to play in Lebanon with Al Riyadi.
- Mirza Begić, whom the Pelicans waived in October, signed with Spain’s Bilbao.
D-League News
- The Idaho Stampede, the Jazz’s D-League affiliate, reacquired point guard Phil Pressey.
- Former Nets, Sixers and Bucks point guard Jorge Gutierrez signed with the D-League affiliate of the Cavaliers.
You can stay up to date on all the D-League assignments and recalls for the season here.
Miscellaneous News
- The Sixers and coach Brett Brown reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension.
- The NBA suspended Al Jefferson five games for a violation of its anti-drug program.
- The Rockets are reportedly looking into trading either Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas.
- The Wizards used the stretch provision to spread out the cap hit associated with the $2.5MM partial guarantee on Martell Webster‘s salary for next season.
- The league and the NBPA held preliminary talks regarding the next collective bargaining agreement.
- Nets rookie swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson suffered a non-displaced fracture of the posterior talus in his right ankle during practice last Sunday and he is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks after undergoing surgery.
- Paul Pierce is considering retiring after this season.