Category: Philadelphia 76ers Blog

It appears the 76ers could find the backup point guard they’re looking for in Will Bynum.

The Sixers, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons are potential suitors for the Piston, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, according to the Detroit Free Press Pistons beat writer Vince Ellis.

Reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer (Blog)

The 76ers are considering talking to Denver assistant Melvin Hunt about their coaching job, but they might have to fend off the Nuggets.

Denver is believed to be interested in promoting Hunt to replace George Karl, who was fired last week, league sources said Monday.

“The Sixers have not formally made contact to begin the process, but there has been some talk through the back channels,” a source said.

The Sixers have not sought permission from the Nuggets to speak with Hunt, according to the source.

Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

According to two sources with knowledge of the 76ers’ search for a coach, Sam Hinkie, president of basketball operations and general manager, probably won’t name a coach until after the June 27 draft.

One Houston-based source said Hinkie “will probably find a coach after the draft.” The source also said that Hinkie believes that the coach “is secondary in the process because [Hinkie] will have an idea of what type of players” the Sixers will need to select.

The Sixers have the 11th pick in the draft.

Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

The pool of prospective coaches from which the 76ers look to hire their new coach was reduced again on Sunday when the Sacramento Kings selected former Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Malone.

The 41-year-old Malone, who replaced Keith Smart, spent the last two seasons as the top assistant to Mark Jackson. Malone is the third coach to be hired recently who was at one time or another believed to be high on the Sixers’ list.

Of course, that list was linked with Tony DiLeo, who was replaced as president of basketball operations on May 10 by new general manager Sam Hinkie.

Since Hinkie, a former executive with Houston, came on board, the Sixers have asked for permission to speak with Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson, and they have been linked to Chris Finch, also a Houston assistant.

Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

It’s been three weeks since the 76ers hired Sam Hinkie as president of basketball operations and general manager, and things have been unusually quiet for a team that has yet to hire a coach with less than one month remaining before the NBA draft.

The Sixers are one of six teams looking for a coach, the other vacancies being in Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Detroit, and Los Angeles (the Clippers). Depending on what happens in Memphis, where former Sixers guard Lionel Hollins’ future is unknown despite his leading the Grizzlies to the Western Conference finals, that number could grow.

Coaches in whom the Sixers were believed to be interested have been hired in Cleveland (Mike Brown), Atlanta (Mike Budenholzer), and Phoenix (Jeff Hornacek). Sixers associate head coach Michael Curry, who has been endorsed by players Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, has emerged as a candidate in Milwaukee, where it was recently reported that he had an interview. Curry has yet to interview for the Sixers, who, according to sources, have yet to interview a candidate for the job.

Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

They probably weren’t the main topic of conversation during the NBA predraft combine last week in the Windy City, but the 76ers’ situation certainly was at the forefront of a lot of talk. With the hiring of Sam Hinkie as president of basketball operations and general manager, more questions seemed to have come about than answers.

“Who is making the basketball decisions right now?” asked one league executive.

When told it was Hinkie, known for his analytics expertise, he replied: “Don’t they have a basketball guy helping out in some ways?”

When it was offered that Hinkie and majority owner Josh Harris were possibly relying on the expertise of Rod Thorn – though now in an advisory role – and others in the front office, another executive responded, “I don’t think they are leaning on Rod Thorn as much as they should or he wants and I heard there still might be changes to the front office.”

— Reported by Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News

Atlantic City plans to bring a $75 million development project, including a movie theater and supermarket, to a neighborhood near the Revel and Showboat casinos.

The project would be backed in part by former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and a development company with which he has partnered, both sides said in a news release issued Thursday.

The City Council approved the plan Wednesday night involving Boraie (Bo-RAY’) Development for the south Inlet neighborhood. It will include a Shaq Cityplex movie theater, as well as homes, shops and offices.

— Reported by the Associated Press