The Philadelphia 76ers will officially hit the market for a new coach.
That’s not going to be easy, as the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and Phoenix Suns are also looking to find a new boss.
However, the Sixers might have the edge when it comes to one particular candidate: Mike D’Antoni.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Sixers could target D’Antoni to be their new coach, especially if James Harden decides to stay.
“Quietly, there has been a belief for a while that Mike D’Antoni would be a coaching candidate for the Sixers if Rivers is relieved of his coaching duties while Harden was a Sixer.”
– @MikeAScotto pic.twitter.com/z3iKTglGi6
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 16, 2023
Harden is rumored to be considering his future with the organization, and he has a player option in the final year of his contract.
The Houston Rockets are reportedly interested in bringing him back, and it would be a fitting end to his career.
But if he decides to run it back with Joel Embiid, then the team should give D’Antoni plenty of consideration.
He brought out the best version of Harden, and the Rockets were one win away from taking down the Golden State Warriors and making it to the NBA Finals.
Harden is obviously not the same player he was during his days in Houston, and he will no longer be the perennial MVP candidate from his first tenure with D’Antoni.
But he’s one of the best offensive minds in the game still, and he’s put together some of the most explosive and entertaining teams in recent NBA history.
Still, it seems like the Sixers might be better off figuring out whether Harden will be on the team or not before making this kind of decision.
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Stephen A. Smith Reacts To Sixers Firing Doc Rivers
