The Philadelphia 76ers are currently without a winning record after being eliminated from the playoffs, but as you may have probably surmised, the team is still a favourite target for rumours. However, this time, the players aren’t being encircled by the ceaseless tornado of spills.
On the transaction table, however, the one being linked to another team is a respected assistant coach—albeit a former one, and a highly regarded one at that. After the Lakers’ first-round loss to the Nuggets and the anticipated dismissal of Darvin Ham, LA appears to be focusing on one of the former 76ers subordinates as a possible replacement.
The Lakers have reportedly cast a broad net in their hunt for a new head coach, focusing on a number of current assistant coaches, including Sam Cassell, a former pivotal player for the 76ers, according to ESPN Senior Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
One of the Lakers’ early favourites for the head poncho position was reportedly Cassell, a seasoned NBA veteran who has served as an assistant for the last 15 years. Cassell spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia under head coach Doc Rivers, who was also his former boss with the Los Angeles Clippers, before moving to Boston this season.
Thanks to his extensive experience as a 15-year veteran, where he made one All-Star team and was a member of three championship teams, Cassell has long been regarded as a top steward for NBA guards. Tyrese Maxey is often credited for being one of the main shadowmen behind his rise to prominence.
Though Cassell is no longer in Philadelphia, his collaboration with Maxey is still a valuable piece of his brief tenure with the team. I hope this summer he finally gets the head coaching position he deserves, maybe with a talented Lakers team.
