'Nothing' standing between 76ers and Collins
According to a source close to the situation, "nothing" would immediately hold up negotiations between the 76ers and Doug Collins, although it's unlikely a deal will be completed tonight.
'Nothing' standing between 76ers and Collins
According to a source close to the situation, "nothing" would immediately hold up negotiations between the 76ers and Doug Collins, although it's unlikely a deal will be completed tonight.
As we've reported for the last week, the Sixers have pinpointed Doug Collins as the team's next head coach. According to a source today, that pursuit has escalated to the form of contract negotiations, which is little surprise considering Collins' camp has been kept informed with each step of this process and, recently, has been given the impression that this is Collins' job, that Stefanski has already made the recommendation to owner Ed Snider.
Multiple sources have indicated that Stefanski has not reached out to the other two main candidates: Avery Johnson and Sam Mitchell. Right now, this is Collins' job. If something falls through with negotiations, only then will those other two be brought back into the mix.
For the Sixers and Collins, it's only been a matter of timing: for Collins as he works the Western Conference finals with TNT, and for the Sixers as they navigated the draft lottery and the Flyers' postseason schedule.
Now that timing has arrived.
There might be some concern entering negotiations that money would be an issue. The Sixers still owe Eddie Jordan approximately $6 million over the next two seasons, while Collins, as is common belief, would likely demand a higher price tag than $3 million per. Perhaps money might still come into play, but those close to the situation have indicated that this union -- Sixers and Collins -- is quickly nearly completion.
If you're sick of coach talk and want to talk about that No. 2 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and what it means for the Sixers, scroll down to the previous post.
--Kate
I was opposed to hiring Collins, but perhaps his years in the booth have given him a different perspective and a good sense of the strengths and weaknesses of the NBA teams, including the Sixers, and of the mistakes he made while coaching. Let us pray! Most importantly, however, the Sixers need a coach who will be with the team for at least four years. Players need greater consistency in their head coach. Iguodala, for example, has played for Jim O'Brien, Maurice Cheeks, Tony Dileo, Eddie Jordan, and now Doug Collins.— chuckw
GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY!!!!!!!!! WE'RE SICK OF WAITING- Tonight???? YAYYYYYYYY it may not get done tonight but at least it's CLOSE TO BEING OVER!!!!!!! give it 2-3 days this deal WILL get done. Let's see how this team will be with Play-A-Day. LOL I know I'm too young to know about that cuz I'm 14. hehe
- Before you idiots ask for Doug Collins check his resume! Its nothing to brag about. As soon as he lands here and he fails then everyone will be crying why did they hire him?! Anyone one that knows basketball will tell you that Avery Johnson would be the best fit for the Sixers.
- Just make sure you draft Turner, already.— CBent1
- hes old, past his prime..hes not the right guy for the job...avery johnson should be the guy!— nut-man
- I don't know who is right for the job, but I do know that Evan Turner should be the pick and both Dalembert and Iggudala should be traded away.— southern eagle fan
Another retread. Can't anyone in this organization think outside the box? Can't wait to hear who the assistants will be (Lynam, McKie, Shue). Same same from a sad sack organization.— OldCoach
Doug Collins will be a Good coach for the Sixers but Avery Johnson would be a Great coach. They need to make sure they Draft Evan Turner and not trade that 2nd pick away. Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Keep Iguodala and mover him to small forward and put Thaddeus Young at the 4. Need to find a better center than Dalembert and Elton can come off the bench and get his points.— briandawkins20
a damn! ping-pong balls, high lottery picks, a proven head coach hiring. the 6ers are all the sudden a topic of conversation again in Philly town...— Reality Speaks
chuckw I agree, Collins has probably mellowed somewhat and is bright enough to hopefully make some adjustments to how he coaches...but a little intensity on this team is certainly not a bad thing. Winning will make things so much better...this team has athletes enough to play defense and win games which is why this past year was so frustrating.— srvdove- He's a player's coach. That is NOT what this team needs. This team needs a disciplinarian who doesn't deal with any nonsense. Within one year, this coach will be thrown under the bus like every other coach who's come though this town not named Larry Brown.— Carcharios
- The love for Avery Johnson is shortsighted. Beyond the fact that he'd rather be in New Orleans the guy's had one head coaching job and that was taking over a 50 win team. To say he could walk into this situation and succeed without whining about the talent is a stretch.— pgcd3
Gosh, another retread with a poor record behind him. This is Eddie Jordan redux. It's possible Stefansky can't get anyone better to take on the job but, at least, talk to Woodson if he's interested. Wait for Thibodeaux. What's the hurry now? Even with the short time between the end of the playoffs and the draft (if waiting to talk to Thibodeaux was of value), there's no issue. The first round pick is already decided. The second round pick almost never matters. So with Jordan out in one year, they'll feel they have to keep Collins at least two years. Well, Sixers, I'll check back in June 2012.
The haters are out in full force even before the guy is hired. The least you could do is take the high road, like your buddy S. A. S., and try to convince everyone that Collins is too good for the Sixers. Bwahahaha!
Collins has a .536 winning percentage while Jordan has .412 winning percentage. I am no math wizard but that looks like a big difference. I do not understand the comparison.......- Spider, you looked up the stats. Did you look at the rosters? When Collins has superstars on his roster he's a "good coach". When he doesn't, he's not. Which roster will he have with the Sixers? He's coached two of the last 13 seasons. Shouldn't we wonder why that would be the case? I'm all for giving a guy another chance. I hope I'll be shown to be wrong.
- What makes Collins so good for the job? Collins didn't get it done in Detroit, Chicago and Washington constantly butting heads with his players. I don't think he is a good fit, my choice is Laimbeer. Laimbeer, has won championships as a player, coach studied under John Wooden and Chuck Daily he has paid his dues and is worthy of the opportunity versus another retread. Honestly, what is going to make Collins persona any different this time?— MSG71
- Dougy Dougy Dougy— BIGEGLFAN
The primary reason Doug Collins is the best choice at this time IS his experience and incredible basketball knowledge. We have ownership that is disinterested and ignorant about basketball. Ownership does not trust the GM and rightfully so. Why do you think Snider wanted LB back? Doug Collins' assessment of this team can be trusted by fans and Comcast. Hope for the best now.— scmona
I wish Ed Snyder would step away from his obsession with Kate Smith for a moment and take a good look at the Sixers. The best deal would be to fire Stefanski and hire Brown to run this organization and teach these young kids how to play basketball.— ej610- Good job Kate ,I understand you got the the story first. Great! Stick around, Philly is going to love you. Chris Allen's Irish freind— Lenapelou
Keith Pompey has been an Inquirer reporter since September 2004. He takes over the Sixers beat after covering the Temple men’s basketball team for the past three years and Temple football the past two seasons. Pompey also previously covered the Penn and Drexel men’s basketball team and Villanova football team after initially focusing on high school sports.
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh. Follow him on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers or reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
