The first major question of a critical 76ers’ offseason has been answered, as Nick Nurse reached an agreement toNurse, the former Toronto Raptors coach who won the 2019 NBA championship, takes over a talented Sixers team anchored by reigning league Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, but that disappointed again in the playoffs and has several roster decisions to make this summer.
Coaches and organizations have varying approaches on whether to bring in a completely fresh group, or maintain some continuity with people who also were on the previous staff. For instance, Sam Cassell, who has great relationships with current Sixers such as Tyrese Maxey and James Harden and has interviewed for head-coaching jobs, would be worth considering retaining.
Nathaniel Mitchell, a Toronto native who previously was an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets and the Raptors’ G League affiliate. He will be the head coach of Canada’s U23 men’s national team and GLOBL JAM in July. Whoever becomes the Raptors’ next head coach could aim to retain members of the former staff, while Griffin could also attempt to hire former colleagues in Milwaukee. And whether former Sixers coach Doc Rivers gets the Phoenix Suns job — and brings some of his Sixers staffers with him — could also impact who potentially stays in Philly. Dan Burke and Dave Joerger were instrumental in building the Sixers’ defensive and offensive systems, respectively.