Celtics assistant to interview for Sixers coaching job

ORLANDO - Jay Larranaga may have only spent one season as an NBA assistant coach. But that's not stopping the 76ers from considering him as their head coach.

The Celtics assistant will interview for the Sixers coaching job, according to multiple reports. In Friday's other news involving the Sixers, the Jrue Holiday-for-Nerlens Noel trade finally became official and the team won its Orlando Pro Summer League finale.

Larranaga, whose father, Jim Larranaga, is the University of Miami coach, was considered a candidate for the Celtics coaching job before Brad Stevens was hired as Doc Rivers' replacement.

The 38-year-old was the coach of the Erie BayHawks for the NBA Development League for two seasons before joining the Celtics staff. Larranaga also had a two-year stint as the Irish national teams coach.

The Sixers spokesperson said the team has no comment on the reports.

Hours after the team interest in Larranaga was leaked, Holiday was introduced as the newest Pelican two days after the first day that NBA deals and free-agent signing could be completed. The recently married NBA all-star point guard was on his honeymoon, which led to the trade's consummation being delayed.

The Sixers traded the 23-year-old and acquired the rights to center Noel, the sixth overall pick, in a deal during the NBA draft on June 27. The Sixers also received the Pelicans' 2014 first-round pick, which is protected from picks one through five, for Holiday and a second-round pick (42d overall) in this year's draft.

"I'm very excited to push forward with the core group of guys we have," Holiday, the all-star guard, said. "Once I got the call and heard I was traded, obviously the initial hit was like, 'Wow, what happened?' but when you started thinking we have Ryan Anderson, Jason Smith and Eric Gordon, I was like 'Dang. We're actually gonna be really good.' "

Sporting a Pelicans hat alongside general manager Dell Demps, Holiday reflected on his AAU basketball days with newly signed free agent Tyreke Evans. Holiday said Evans brings "a big, wide, physical frame" to the lineup that will give the team a boost to go with shooting guard Eric Gordon.

"The draft is an important pipeline of talent for our team and our intention was to add players who could position us well for the future," Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie said in a news release. "Nerlens Noel and an additional 2014 first-round draft choice give us two new opportunities to add talent to our team."

In summer-league action, Khalif Wyatt scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Sixers to an 89-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in the ninth-place game.