By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Philadelphia 76ers have fired head coach Brett Brown, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported, and was later announced by the team. The Sixers were expected to proceed to that move following their elimination in the first round of the playoffs with a sweep by the Boston Celtics.
Wojnarowski also says that Los Angeles Clippers assistant and former NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers Tye Lue is emerging as the primary option to replace Brown. Earlier on Monday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Lue is among the head coach candidates, together with Dave Joerger, Villanova’s Jay Wright and Sixers assistant Ime Udoka.
“I have a tremendous level of respect for Brett both personally and professionally and appreciate all he’s done for the 76ers organization and the City of Philadelphia,” Sixers GM Elton Brand said according to the Sixers press release. “He did many positive things during his time here, developing young talent and helping position our team for three straight postseason appearances. Unfortunately, we fell well short of our goals this year and I believe it is best to go in a new direction. This will be an important offseason for us as we look to get back on track towards our goal of competing for an NBA championship.”
The plan for the Sixers remains to keep building around current team stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and have the new coaching staff utilize the duo to the max.
“In 2013, I was employed to lead one of the most dramatic rebuilds in professional sports history,” Brown said in a statement. “In the past seven years, our players and coaches have evolved and grown, and I have a deep appreciation for the 102 players I have coached.”