Rivers won't have a position in the 76ers' front office like he did with the ClippersNBAE/Getty Images
Former Clippers coach Doc Rivers "will receive a five-year contract" to become the new coach of the 76ers, and he "checks all the credibility boxes for a team in desperate need of a pick-me-up," according to Keith Pompey of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Rivers, who "had a prominent role in the front office in addition to coaching the team" while with the Clippers, "will not work" in the 76ers' front office. He is "widely respected around the league and had a hand in changing the culture of the Clippers." It is expected that Rivers will "have a big say in personnel decisions" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/2). ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Rivers’ “stature was important to that Philly organization, an overarching figure in the league.” Wojnarowski: “Those are big components of why they wanted him as their head coach.” Wojnarowski said one of the factors that influenced Rivers’ decision to join the 76ers was the “star power” of F Ben Simmons and C Joel Embiid. Other factors were a “big market in Philadelphia” and an “ownership group that has shown it’s willing to spend” (“Get Up,” ESPN, 10/2).
LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE: In Philadelphia, Noah Levick wrote Rivers alone "should not be expected to save the Sixers." It is "obvious, though, why the Sixers pounced once the Clippers parted ways." This job "will be packed with unique challenges, even for someone who played in 13 NBA seasons and has coached in 21." The organization Rivers joins is "far from a well-oiled machine, and the team's history since Sam Hinkie's departure" under co-Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer "provides little reason for optimism." 76ers GM Elton Brand, who led this coaching search, said on Aug. 24 that the "collaboration days didn't work" and he would be doing a "thorough assessment" of the team's front office. Rivers' hire happened "before any front office changes" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 10/1).
SAME OLD SONG & DANCE? CBSSPORTS.com's Brad Botkin wrote the "hope is the same as it has been with every other Philly move: Throw enough big names into the pot, no matter how well they mix, close your eyes, rub your hands, and hope a championship stew gets cooked up." The Sixers "just can't help themselves." They are "stuck on star power" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/1). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said the "expectations are completely unrealistic” in Philadelphia. Kornheiser said the 76ers “should have thrown” $100M at Villanova coach Jay Wright. The Athletic’s Frank Isola said Rivers still has a year left on his contract with the Clippers so “why not take a year off” and maybe get “into TV. Everybody can do TV, as we know” (“PTI,” ESPN, 10/1).
