The Sixers' big, awesome front office is dwindling
Chicago is hiring away a key Colangelo holdover in Philly, and coach Brett Brown might not be long for the team. What will the Sixers do now?
Good morning. Let’s make sure we’re using all that produce we bought.
The Poem of the Soul, Louis Janmot
The Bulls are hiring Marc Eversley as their general manager under Arturas Karnisovas, a move that is being met with accolades given Eversley’s resumé and reputation. This profile by Darnell Mayberry in The Athletic ($) has a lot of great background — Eversley is a relationships person, having built his career from Nike to the Raptors and Sixers. And he’s a detail-oriented talent scout. That combo — a person people (especially players, agents and managers) trust and an eye for talent — is really, really valuable in today’s NBA.
So how do the Sixers replace it? Where exactly will the Sixers go from here?
When the team elevated Elton Brand to essentially replace coach Brett Brown as the front office leader in the wake of the bizarre, hilarious Bryan Colangelo situation, much was made of the Sixers’ executive suite remaining a collaborative, team effort, akin to something like the Warriors, where everyone has a voice. Brand was just the hammer — all the tools were invited to the party.
One of the more important tools in Eversley is now gone. Brand has executive experience running a G League team, and has learned in a trial by fire with the Sixers over the last couple of years. He’s smart and capable. The Sixers also still have Ned Cohen, who has a sterling reputation and is considered a future GM somewhere. But like Eversley, Cohen was brought to the team by Colangelo. We don’t know how long Colangelo’s old castles will last.
Brett Brown, perhaps still involved in front office decision-making due to his time as Colangelo’s scandal stand-in, is quite possibly on the ropes heading into next season, whenever that is. When I wrote about coaches at risk of being replaced at some point in the near future, he figured prominently given the Sixers’ disappointing 2019-20 season.
If Brown gets replaced, the Sixers’ robust, diverse front office leadership hydra will be down to Brand and Cohen. Maybe that’s still fine — that set-up is a more traditional front office design — or maybe it’s not. But it’s worth noting all the same, especially considering no competitive team has a stranger roster situation. There’s a whole lot of work to do in Philadelphia, and a decreasing number of people capable of doing it.
Amazing Jersey Redesigns
Someone hire Pete Rogers to do their city editions! These redesigned jerseys are incredible. I’d absolutely buy a Karl-Anthony Towns Wolves jersey in that style. The Knicks one is another favorite.
Important Aaron Gordon Diss Track Update
According to a piece in The Athletic ($), Dwyane Wade told Gordon he liked his song, and Gordon told Wade he liked his wine. Also, Gordon has been donating to causes in Orlando.
This has been an important Aaron Gordon diss track.
Links
Henry Abbott on when the world will get its version of basketball back, when the rims will be re-attached to park hoops, when gyms will be full for pick-up.
Takeaways from Jonathan Givony on the early entry list.
Friend of the newsletter Alex Wong on King Handles and Notic, one of the world’s greatest ever streetball crews.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says some sports leagues may need to skip a season.
Daishen Nix, a UCLA commit, is joining the G League instead.
Luke Walton seems to think Buddy Hield is no longer mad about coming off the bench. ($)
Fascinating piece by Anthony Slater on how the Warriors do not believe they will be playing basketball again in the “2019-20" season because there is no point. ($)
A bunch of NBA players are taking college classes during quarantine. Fantastic.
Lauren Jackson’s reflections on a basketball career.
Not basketball, but there’s an NFL draftee with a tattoo representing a far-right militia. Bomani Jones asks where the questions were before the guy was drafted.
Napheesa Collier is the biggest bargain in the WNBA right now.
Executives pick which stars from the last two drafts they’d build around. I’d go: Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Trae Young, in that order. Trae might edge Ja depending on the day.
Be excellent to each other.