Source: Sixers begin talks with Collins
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Source: Sixers begin talks with Collins
Bob Cooney
The 76ers have started negotiations today with Doug Collins in hopes of making him the team’s next head coach, a league source told the Daily News.
Collins hasn’t coached in the NBA since 2003 and since has been an NBA analyst for TNT. He is currently working the Western Conference finals between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers for the network.
During his eight seasons as coach with the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, the 58-year-old Collins compiled a 332-287 record. A four-time All-Star as a player, Collins was selected with the first overall pick by the Sixers in 1973 and played all eight of his injury-plagued NBA career in Philadelphia.
On Tuesday at the NBA Draft Lottery in Secaucus, N.J., president and general manager Ed Stefanski said that there could be a second round of interviews among the top three candidates – Collins, Avery Johnson and Sam Mitchell. “If there’s a second round (of interviews), it will be quicker, it will be in a timely fashion,” Stefanski said.
He then said: “There are two options: Bring some people back for a second interview or just go towards the candidate we feel most comfortable with.”
It appears they have chosen the latter. Stefanski met with chairman Ed Snider and chief operating officer Peter Luukko today and the decision was made to start the negotiations with Collins.
Stefanski will spend tomorrow and Friday in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine.
The obsession with Avery Johnson is comical. He's had one HC job and took over a 50-win team. I see nothing that suggests that he's the right man for this job.— pgcd3- Doug Collins should be the GM with Stefanski getting the boot. Avery Johnson should be the coach. He would be the drill instructor that this bunch needs. Collins ain't that type. The two of them can work together to evaluate available talent, even from Europe, get the bodies in here, off load the parts that don't fit for whatever you can get. I am sure that Collins would have off-loaded Iggy for McGrady and pried Eddie House away from the Celtics.— dross
wondo40, after the draft ping pong balls bounce last night, it became logical that the coach should be Doug Collins. johnnyu- Leron (it should really be Moron), Matt Millen was a GM. Collins is a coach. Get the difference?— JBinPA
- wondo40 - brace-faced moron? Perfect. I love it. Post more often. M— Ballgame
- Why so much hate on Collins? This is exactly the guy I was hoping for.— younggunna917
- younggunna, the problem is Collins hasn't had a winning season coaching in the NBA since 1996. We could probably get someone just as suitable at a cheaper price.— CBent1
- What I pay Comca$t for internet and cable, price should be no object. Join "Sixers Fans For Change" on Facebook.— ArtMooney
- Doug is just the coach for this emerging team...johnnyu
Doug Collins is good but how about Avery Johnson or Sam Mitchell. If the Cavs fire Mike Brown, I would look at him as well. Wait to the Finals are over to make the choice on the next head coach and Draft Evan Turner with the 2nd Pick. Do not Trade it— briandawkins20
Everybody get ready for a SLOW happy offense because this coach here knows what he's doing.- Evan Turner has got to be saying, "OH HELL NO!!!!! CAN I GO BACK TO STATE?" And Doug Collins? For real? How many ex-Sixers are we going to hire? Can someone explain to me how this guy is a better choice than Avery Johnson? How long has it been since Collins has coached? And look at their roster--does anyone on this team scare anyone? Collins will have a stroke before 30 games into the season....sigh(we suck, we suck, we suck)— illogicallyyours
- Collins is gonna run the offense around Elton Brand. He will also get bored of coaching, and head back to the television booth.— Leron
- Collins is over the hill with a mediocre track record. Jordan didnt even win anything until Phil Jackson replaced Collins. He might know a lot about basketball but can he coach todays players and achiev success? Avery Johnson would be a MUCH better solution (assuming he would come to the city where coaches come to die)— Four4Four
- not good!!!!!!!!!!— jayel23
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
