Sixers reportedly prevented contender from hiring Rivers initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers had been deep into their head teaching search when Doc Rivers immediately and unexpectedly grew to become accessible, they usually acted shortly to make him the subsequent head coach of the franchise.
So shortly that they apparently derailed one Western Convention contender’s plan to rent Rivers as their subsequent coach.
The Rockets had been planning on hiring Rivers to succeed Mike D’Antoni earlier than the Sixers switched gears and began aggressively pursuing Rivers, based on a report Tuesday from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
“Houston had initially needed to rent Rivers to switch Mike D’Antoni, sources stated, however his talks with the 76ers moved shortly to a decision.”
The Rockets are actually reportedly taking an extended have a look at Ty Lue, who was Rivers’ assistant coach in Los Angeles this previous season and additionally interviewed for the Sixers’ head teaching job, to switch D’Antoni. That looks like a win for the Sixers, who’ve a less-proven however youthful star duo in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, in comparison with James Harden and Russell Westbrook in Houston.
In an ironic twist, D’Antoni, who the Rockets needed to switch with Rivers, appeared to have the Sixers job locked up earlier than Rivers parted methods with the Clippers after their second-round exit within the NBA Bubble’s postseason.
Rivers wasn’t accessible lengthy – he parted methods with the Clippers on Sept. 28, and the Sixers employed him on Oct. three. – in order that five-day window should’ve been fast-paced and engaging.
Now, nevertheless, Rivers is signed to a five-year deal in Philadelphia, and ideally will not be heading anyplace else anytime quickly.
