:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67559080/1270874671.jpg.0.jpg)
UPDATE: Oct. 1, 5:41 p.m. — Rivers and the Sixers have reached an agreement to make him their next head coach, Woj reported late Thursday.
After a rapid courtship and negotiation, Doc Rivers has reached agreement on a deal to become the next coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2020
Rivers’ deal with the Sixers is for five years, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Doc Rivers-Philadelphia 76ers coaching agreement: Five-year deal, sources say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 1, 2020
As Woj alludes to, this was a very rapid process that basically took the span of a couple of days to come to fruition. The Sixers appear to have their coach of the future in Rivers, who was fired by the Clippers just a few days ago. Rivers is one of the premier coaches in the NBA having won a championship with the Boston Celtics and having coached high-profile superstars with the Clippers the past seven seasons.
Rivers and Sixers GM Elton Brand connected quickly, per Woj. The two were able to get an agreement done quickly. This likely means that the Sixers aren’t going to trade one of Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons this offseason. Philly could go into next season with the current roster, hoping that Rivers can get the most out of it and assess things after that.
Rivers connected quickly with GM Elton Brand and Sixers ownership in Wednesday's meetings and sides moved quickly toward negotiating a multi-year deal that culminated with a formal agreement minutes ago, sources said. https://t.co/LCt5BhbkNX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2020
UPDATE: Oct. 1, 11:46 a.m. — Rivers has emerged as a ‘serious candidate’ for the Sixers head coach job, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early Thursday morning. It only took one interview for Rivers to become a front-runner for the job. Woj also mentions Mike D’Antoni is still in the running.
After a productive Wednesday of talks with Sixers, Doc Rivers has emerged as a serious candidate in process to hire a new coach, sources tell ESPN. Rivers left town after meeting with ownership and GM Elton Brand. Mike D’Antoni remains other prominent candidate in search.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2020
Former Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers will meet with the Philadelphia 76ers, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday. Rivers was fired by the Clippers on Monday after seven seasons. Los Angeles failed to make it past the second round, losing to the Denver Nuggets in seven games.
Former Clippers coach Doc Rivers will meet with the 76ers in the Philadelphia area, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 30, 2020
The Sixers have had interviews with plenty of candidates in a search to replace Brett Brown, who was also fired after losing in the playoffs this year. Philly has been linked to several names, including Mike D’Antoni and Tyronn Lue. Perhaps the reason the Sixers opted not to hire someone was because there were rumblings of Rivers being available at some point. That rumblings have come to the surface and now Rivers makes for an excellent replacement for Brown.
This move wouldn’t be so much about X’s and O’s but about Rivers being able to bring together a talented roster. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have had a few shots in the postseason but it hasn’t amounted to much. With Simmons hurt this season, the Sixers didn’t have high expectations, but expectations nonetheless. Failing to win a game in the first round did not meet expectations. Rivers is a championship caliber coach, something not many coaches can put on their resume.