76ers coaching candidates: Sam Cassell, Monty Williams, Nick Nurse among potential replacements for Doc Rivers

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The Philadelphia 76ers parted ways with head coach Doc Rivers after three seasons, and the team is now searching for his replacement. Rivers was fired because he was unable to lead the Sixers past the conference semifinals, so whoever takes his spot will be facing immense pressure to do just that. The new coach will also be tasked with maximizing Joel Embiid in the postseason, as the NBA MVP has been unable to lead his team on a deep playoff run under his two previous head coaches. 

So, who will be the next head coach of the 76ers? Here’s a look at six of the likeliest candidates as Philadelphia begins its search.  

Sam Cassell 

The Sixers’ next head coach could already be in Philadelphia. Cassell has served as an assistant under Rivers since 2014. He followed Rivers from the Los Angeles Clippers to Philadelphia, and he also served as an assistant with the Washington Wizards for five years prior to that. The man certainly has experience as an assistant, as he appears poised to get an opportunity to become a lead decision-maker, either in Philly or elsewhere. 

The Rockets are also interested in Cassell, who spent the first three seasons of his career in Houston. The Sixers now have to decide if they want to elevate Cassell to head coach or risk losing him to another organization. The obvious concern with Cassell is his lack of experience as a head coach. A ready-made contender with championship expectations might prefer a coach with postseason experience, as opposed to a rookie. 

Monty Williams

Monty Williams is fresh off of a successful four-year stint with the Suns that saw him lead the team to the NBA Finals in 2021 for the first time since 1993. He was also just named the NBA Coach of the Year in 2022. Prior to his time in Phoenix, Williams served as an assistant under Brett Brown in Philadelphia, so he is already very familiar with the Sixers as an organization. 

Williams also served as the head coach in New Orleans for half of a decade, so he’s certainly steeped in experience. He was relieved of his duties in Phoenix after…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-coaching-candidates-sam-cassell-monty-williams-nick-nurse-among-potential-replacements-for-doc-rivers/

Author : Michael Kaskey-Blomain

Publish date : 2023-05-16 18:15:39

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