Too Much Too Little Too Late
The team had no starting guard, had not resolved the front court roles, and had overtaxed head coach Brett Brown’s ability to “wing it” in setting up a competitive roster.
New 76ers executive, Jerry Colangelo, took action. He persuaded Mike D’Antoni to join the team as the assistant head coach to help take the pressure off Brown, and then turned his attention to the roster.
Then the team traded for Ish Smith.
The team played point guard Ish Smith on December 26. While Smith was a bona fide experienced point guard, this would be Okafor’s first opportunity to play as his teammate. Smith had played the previous year as a 76er, and would be more familiar with the play of Nerlens Noel.
Finally, the team brought in veteran power forward Elton Brand to help mentor young Sixers players, but most of all, Jahlil Okafor.
The team tried to mesh Nerlens Noel at power forward, and then tried to move Okafor to the four. Finally, team exec Jerry Colangelo weighed in to declare Noel as a rim-protecting center on Feb. 2.
By the morning of February 29, having played in just 53 games, Jahlil Okafor’s season ended.
Next: Held His Own