It is always sunny in Philadelphia. Unless you are coach Brett Brown.
On Monday afternoon, the Philadelphia 76ers announced the firing of Brown after seven seasons with the team.
The firing comes a day after the Sixers were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Brett Brown Out After Seven Seasons
Brett Brown Firing
However, Brown’s firing is not the only change in Philadelphia. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers will be considering making front office changes in senior leadership.
Elton Brand will remain the head of basketball operations but the personnel below him are subject to change.
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have been a part of several trade scenarios within the last year. However, the Sixers are determined to hire and implement a new coaching staff to maximize the two bigs playing together.
Prior to the Sixers’ sweep, Brown had been on the hot seat most of the 2019-20 season. In 2013, Brown took over a struggling Sixers’ team and helped them escape the “dark ages.” He coached during former general manager Sam Hinkie’s “Process” period of tanking, later turning the Sixers into a playoff contender.
Despite Philadelphia’s third consecutive playoffs appearance, the Sixers fell short this season, with the loss of Simmons in the bubble. The Sixers have not reached past the Eastern Conference Semifinals under Brown’s tenure.
What’s Next for the Philadelphia 76ers
Aside from front office changes, the Sixers will begin the search for a head coach. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, candidates include current Sixers’ assistant Ime Udoka, former Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger, Villanova head coach Jay Wright and Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Tyronn Lue.
According to Wojnarowski, Lue and Philadelphia are expected to have mutual interest. Lue, most notably, won an NBA championship as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach in 2016. He has success with commanding and challenging high-caliber players’ respect on and off the court. This is very attractive for teams in the head coaching search.
Regardless of who is the next coach, they will have to create an offense that allows both Simmons and Embiid to excel.
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