Sixers could wait a while longer before hiring coach

The 76ers have decided not to hire a head coach before the June 27 NBA draft, but that might not be as risky as some think, an NBA source said.

The reason is new general manager Sam Hinkie, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous.

"I know Sam, and he's a really sharp guy," the league source said of the former Houston Rockets executive. "He's got a plan in place. Whether or not he's going to share it with everyone, I don't know.

"He knows the game and how it's played. I have to assume that things will fall into place."

Yahoo! Sports reported that the Sixers could wait until after the Orlando rookie summer league games on July 7-12 before hiring a coach. The team's assistant coaches, who could run the summer-league team, remain under contract for another season.

The Sixers did not make Hinkie available for comment on Wednesday. He is not expected to speak to the media until the night of the draft.

Last year, the Orlando Magic hired coach Jacque Vaughn on July 28, 30 days after the draft.

Among the candidates for the Sixers job are assistants David Fizdale (Heat), Michael Curry (Sixers) and Melvin Hunt (Nuggets), and Rockets assistants Chris Finch and Kelvin Sampson.

The team is seeking a replacement for Doug Collins, who resigned in April.

Iverson update. On Tuesday, former Sixers star Allen Iverson denied a claim by his ex-wife, Tawanna, that he abducted their five children after a five-day vacation in Charlotte, N.C. The children were returned to their mother on June 12.

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