Mike D'Antoni has been one of the most sought-after names on the market. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the teams heavily linked to the 69-year-old after he recently parted ways with the Houston Rockets, and the latest rumor suggests Joel Embiid has signed off on the move.
This report comes via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquier:
Now, word is leaking out that Brand is pushing hard for the Sixers to hire D’Antoni and that Joel Embiid gave his blessing. In addition, there are reports that the Sixers will make trades if D’Antoni is hired. The expectation is that he’ll have a say in picking players for his freewheeling style of play.
It is worth noting here that it's not only Embiid who appears to be eager to link up with D'Antoni. Sixers general manager Elton Brand also seems to be on the same page, and it seems as if Philadelphia is pushing hard for this move.
Pompey's report also states that even Sixers ownership is enthused by the idea of bringing in such a esteemed coach in D'Antoni. They believe that he is the man for the job and that D'Antoni would “have to bomb his interview with the Sixers owners not to be offered the job.”
D'Antoni is known best for his run-and-gun play, so him going to Philadelphia would make for an intriguing fit with Embiid, Ben Simmons, Al Horford, and Tobias Harris all on the roster. There have already been rumblings that the Sixers would look to make some big trades if D'Antoni is indeed the man, and Embiid seems like a player who could be on the move in this scenario.
But, at least for now, it appears as if Embiid endorses D'Antoni.