Sixers Notes: Colangelo, Brown, Embiid

Despite relinquishing his title as the Sixers’ chairman of basketball operations after his son Bryan was hired as president of basketball operations, Jerry Colangelo insists his role with the team has not changed, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.”Nothing really changed,” Colangelo said. “My role is still the same that I was originally asked to come in and do.” The executive noted that he was hired to be an adviser and his official title was something that was added after the fact, Pompey relays. “But in translation, [his role after Bryan’s hire] sounded differently, especially the stepping down kind of a thing,” Colangelo said. “I haven’t stepped down. I’m still walking on the same level, doing the same thing.”

Here’s more from Philadelphia:

• Coach Brett Brown is glad the 2015/16 season is over, and he is anticipating better things for the franchise in the future, writes Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “This phase that we’re going into now, call it phase two, is different from phase one,” Brown said. “We went through those three years of pain and losing. What you’re going to hear more out of everybody’s mouths is, ‘How do you re-establish winning?’ When you use phrases and words like that, the conversation gets directed a little bit more toward free agents and draft picks or veterans on the team and keepers. I think the design of the team takes a little bit more of a real discussion, a real flavor that, perhaps in the past, it’s been based on … rebuild and process and those types of things. I feel like that’s been the discussion that’s most prevalent lately.“
• When asked about the Sixers’ offseason priorities, Brown indicated finding a point guard was at the top of the team’s list, tweets Tom Moore of Calkins Media. “It’s always: What are you doing with your point guard? That’s the most important position,” Brown told Moore.
• The Sixers’ combination of cap space, draft picks and young talent give new GM Bryan Colangelo plenty to work with as he begins his tenure with the franchise, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes. The team may benefit the most from the return of center Joel Embiid, who has yet to play in a regular season contest since being drafted and is looking sharp in his workouts, Grange adds.