The Philadelphia 76ers made a number of moves with respect to management and the coaching staff on Wednesday.
Daryl Morey is joining the organization as the president of basketball operations after stepping down from that position with the Houston Rockets. Elton Brand is staying on as general manager, but Morey figures to call most of the shots when it comes to personnel.
But Doc Rivers is also getting aggressive in assembling his staff. The Sixers already hired former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger as an assistant, and now former Indiana Pacers assistant Dan Burke is joining the fray. So, too, is Sam Cassell, who was on Rivers' staff in Los Angeles.
The Sixers are hiring longtime Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke, league sources tell ESPN. Burke joins former Grizzlies and Kings coach Dave Joerger on Doc Rivers’ coaching staff, and is widely regarded for his defensive acumen.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 28, 2020
Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell will be added to Doc Rivers’ staff with the #Sixers, according to sources. That was the expectation if he didn’t get a head-coaching gig. pic.twitter.com/aDnLCtozB0
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 28, 2020
Cassell had been one of the perceived candidates for the Rockets job, but Houston's search appears to be narrowed down to Jeff Van Gundy and Stephen Silas. As such, he will reunite with Rivers in Philly.
For his part, Burke figures to help solidify a Sixers defense that ranked sixth in defensive rating last season. Joel Embiid appeared quite pleased by Burke's hiring.
Yes sir!!! Now we can enjoy together what the league lets me get away with #PhillyForever https://t.co/7hctLSilCV
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 28, 2020
It remains to be seen what all of this means in context of how Morey will look to shape the roster. Still, the Sixers are rapidly bringing things into place.
Philadelphia will enter the 2020-21 season with plenty of expectations after such seismic changes in leadership. There are a number of questions entering the offseason, such as how Morey might handle Al Horford's contract or whether the Sixers remain intent on retaining both Ben Simmons and Embiid.
Regardless, there appears to be more clarity at the top, and Rivers' staff figures to have plenty of input on personnel decisions.