The Philadelphia 76ers filled their head coaching vacancy with former San Antonio Spurs assistant Brett Brown — yet another concerted effort to purge the Spurs organization of their collective basketball acumen.
It's a deal, reportedly four years in length, that former Spur Malik Rose particularly likes.
Via Philly.com:
“I think this is a great hire for the Sixers,” said Malik Rose, current analyst of Sixers games on Comcast SportsNet and a member of the Spurs when Brown was there. “During a time when the fans of the team feel alienated, Brett is the kind of guy the fans will love. He shoots from the hip, is a gym rat, energetic and is the type of coach players really respond to. He doesn’t sugarcoat things. He tells players what he wants and how he wants it. He knows how to motivate. He’s a great teacher if the game.”
Philadelphia isn't in any position to contend this year. The Andrew Bynum gambit failed miserably. They flipped first-time All-Star Jrue Holiday for Nerlens Noel and a protected lottery pick in next year's draft. Rookie Michael Carter-Williams will effectively replace Holiday in the rotation. The 76ers are gunning hard for a potentially franchise changing draft pick, rather than meager playoff success in the interim.
It's a calculus Brown is very unfamiliar with. It'll require a steep adjustment period, for sure, and it may be a difficult transition — at least initially. But there is perhaps no better fit for the 76ers. For the time being, meanwhile, Brown has a comfy one-year cushion to instill his system without repercussion. Then, it'll be time to mold a title contender around a prodigious young buck. Philadelphia, historically, isn't a very patient fan base.
You know, no pressure.
