After the longest head coaching search in recent memory, the Sixers finally introduced Brett Brown as their guy today at a press conference at the Wells Fargo Center. Here are some reactions to what Brown and general manager Sam Hinkie had to say, as well as some other Sixers news:
- Brown and Hinkie have a huge mountain to climb to bring the Sixers back to respectability, but because of the commitment the team made to Brown, it is appears that they are in for the long haul together, writes Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer. With the Sixers roster in the shape its in, Brown prioritized the guarantee of four-year pact.
- In the short term, both Brown and Hinkie, as well as Sixers fans, will have to exhibit a level of tolerance and patience, writes Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. Brown, of course, came from San Antonio where the Spurs haven't had a losing season since 1996/97, which led to them landing Tim Duncan.
- While Brown's introductory press conference was a long one, Max Rappaport of Sixers.com was able to sit down with the former Spurs assistant afterwards for a one-on-one interview. The team's website also has the press conference in its entirety in three different pieces.
- Team owner Joshua Harris is in negotations to buy the NHL's New Jersey Devils, which has some paranoid Sixers fans expressing concern that the New York City-based Harris could attempt to move the team north to Newark's Prudential Center, which no longer houses an NBA team with the Nets in Brooklyn. Hinkie alleviated some of those concerns today after the Brown presser, telling Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com, "Josh Harris is more committed than ever to owning the Sixers and the fans of Philadelphia and keeping the Sixers here forever."
- Brown's job this year is to see what he has, Moore writes, adding that next summer will go a long way to deciding the fate of the Sixers under Brown. With significant cap space and two potential lottery picks in a loaded draft, Philly could quickly become an appealing destination for free agents.