Sixers generally manage promotions without GM hire
The Sixers Monday announced a spate of front office and coaching promotions, none of which involved the trivial matter of hiring a general manager.
Instead, the Sixers shuffled around existing desks to compensate for the duties that a general manager generally has, on the same day that managing partner Josh Harris admitted to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the club is recalibrating its GM search and could use the structure established Monday into the 2018-19 season.
Among the biggest changes is the promotion of Ned Cohen to Assistant General Manager, even if he technically has no one above him to assist. Cohen, who joined the Sixers in 2016 after 12 years in the league office, had served at the Vice President of Basketball Operations and Chief of Staff. Cohen “will oversee all facets of roster and salary cap management, among other leadership duties,” per a team statement.
Elton Brand will add to his role as GM of the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League as the Sixers’ VP of Basketball Operations. Mark Eversley was promoted to Senior VP of Player Personnel for his third season with the club, a role that, “includes an increased focus on all areas of pro personnel, as well as efforts to attract, acquire and retain elite NBA talent.” Alex Rucker had “Senior” tacked on to his existing title, VP of Analytics and Strategy.
Conspicuously, none of those jobs is an exact match for what Bryan Colangelo did prior to his June sacking after it was revealed that his wife operated clandestine Twitter accounts that vehemently backed Colangelo, criticized rivals as well as Sixers players and divulged sensitive information. Colangelo’s resignation was accepted June 7, and head coach Brett Brown handled personnel matters during the summer’s free-agency period as well as at the 2018 NBA Draft.
On Brown’s staff, Kevin Young was promoted to the bench behind fellow assistant coaches Monty Williams and Billy Lange. Jim O’Brien has transitioned to become a senior advisor to Brown.
“We believe we have one of the NBA’s most talented and innovative front offices and we’re thrilled to announce these promotions as we approach the 2018-19 season,” Harris said in the team statement. “Thanks to the leadership of executives like Elton, Ned, Marc and Alex, as well as Head Coach Brett Brown, our team is incredibly well-positioned for not only this season, but for seasons to come. We’re focused on continuing to build a team with championship DNA and the talent and drive of our front office reflects that.”