The Sixers finished a game behind their mark from last season, but owner Josh Harris sees progress toward the goal of eventual title contention, as Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays. “The bottom is behind us and we’re on the way up, and we expect to get better consistently from here,” Harris said. Brookover isn’t convinced, but coach Brett Brown said that the team’s record will matter much more next year as the franchise takes the next step in its rebuilding.
“It’s during-the-year changes that have hurt us,” Brown said. “At the end of the day to coach gypsies, to have to coach a revolving door, that’s not what I’m looking for. The program understands, Sam understands, Josh understands that we need a level of consistency to move it forward. That doesn’t mean we have to be pregnant with average players. We’re looking for players that move the program forward in a big way. If there is volatility that comes our way because of that last comment, then so be it. Consistency and carryover can’t trump the fact that we’re looking for talent.”
Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News sees frustration in that remark and others from Brown, and GM Sam Hinkie has signaled that he doesn’t plan a significant push in free agency this summer, so it’s unclear just how Philly will improve, aside from the maturation of its young talent. While we wait to find out, here’s more on the Sixers:
- Harris says he hasn’t had any talks about an extension for Brown, but the owner said the coach has exceeded expectations and wouldn’t rule one out, notes John Smallwood of the Daily News. Brown has two more seasons on his contract, and Smallwood argues that he deserves an extension even though it isn’t possible to judge whether he’ll ultimately be a successful NBA head coach given the lack of talent he’s had to work with.
- Rising franchise values and the league’s new $24 billion TV contract mean Harris is under no pressure to win in the short term, since the Sixers have a steady flow of revenue, writes John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com.
- Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News takes a crack at predicting who’ll be back on the team next season, speculating that Furkan Aldemir and Isaiah Canaan won’t return in spite of the guaranteed salary on their contracts.