In Philadelphia, Keith Pompey reported the 76ers are "considering shaking up their front office by adding more basketball minds to the group." 76ers Chair of Basketball Jerry Colangelo said, "I’m not being specific. I’m just saying adding someone, people to the front office. Maybe it’s not a person. And that’s not demeaning who we have. That’s just saying you got to be strong" (PHILLY.com, 2/13).
TIME TO TAKE CHARGE: In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin wrote NBA Kings VP/Basketball & Franchise Operations Vlade Divac "needs help in the front office." He "needs to hire a general manager, primarily because his personnel department is painfully thin and the offseason presents a series of weighty issues." Divac should "move swiftly and aggressively." Just "flash his abundance of charm, talk up that new arena, swear the organization is intent on curbing its worst tendencies, make it clear he’s in charge and steal from the best" (SACBEE.com, 2/13).
WILD 'N OUT: In Minneapolis, Michael Russo notes after the Wild fired coach Mike Yeo over the weekend, the spotlight "now shines" on Exec VP & GM Chuck Fletcher. Fletcher said, "I take full ownership. I’ve hired the coaches. I’ve brought the players in. So, obviously, when you’re the general manager, you’re accountable for everything. I take full ownership." But Russo notes Wild Owner Craig Leipold has "given no indication that Fletcher’s job is in jeopardy." However, if this season "completely implodes, Leipold surely will evaluate the job Fletcher has done" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/15). Fletcher said that interim coach John Torchetti "has a chance to earn the full-time job." But in St. Paul, Brian Murphy notes this change "seems designed to buy time for Leipold to fully assess his regime and determine whether a housecleaning is in order" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/15).
