Philadelphia looked everywhere outside the organization for a replacement for Rod Thorn as team president and GM. They wanted Danny Ferry but he went to Atlanta. They talked to former Blazer guy Tom Penn and former Hornet GM Jeff Bower but that didn’t come together. They made a run at Nuggets’ GM Masai Ujiri but he stayed put.
So in the end they stayed in house.
Multiple reports Friday morning have the Sixers promoting assistant general manager Tony DiLeo to the big chair. He will take over for Thorn when Thorn retires. The formal announcement is expected later Friday.
What that really means is coach Doug Collins has the power — he has been a primary force in basketball decision making for a while now. Not bringing in a guy with clout from the outside means Collins keeps ahold of the reins.
This also means consistency with the plan — the Sixers are building around Andrew Bynum (who they must re-sign after this season), Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday. That likely would not have changed with a new GM, but now the plan is locked down. Well, as long as they can lock those guys down.