The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers need succession plan

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA,PA - JANUARY 4: Coach Mike D'antoni of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on along with Brett Brown against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Wells Fargo Center on January 4, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - JANUARY 4: Coach Mike D'antoni of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on along with Brett Brown against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Wells Fargo Center on January 4, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 10: Head coach Brett Brown (center left) talks with Nik Stauskas #11, T.J. McConnell #1 (center right) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during a timeout against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 10: Head coach Brett Brown (center left) talks with Nik Stauskas #11, T.J. McConnell #1 (center right) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during a timeout against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

We have all wanted the Philadelphia 76ers to find success.  But as the organization stands in the doorway to what will likely be a very promising season, it’s time to visit the team’s succession plan

“My dog is bigger than your dog”.  “My dad can beat up your dad”. While these may read as quite strange to you today, there was a day and age where these were quite common phrases heard on playgrounds and schoolyards across the nation. And the underlying message is very important to the future of the Philadelphia 76ers right now. More important than many of you may realize.

We’ll get back to this a little later.

The Philadelphia 76ers stand at the cusp of their first playoff appearance in years. While the team is not a certainty, the front office must plan as though it is.  Ultimately, waiting for it to happen is too late.

What’s our “Plan B”?

Why the fretting? Why the doom and gloom from me, the guy who is typically upbeat and optimistic to a fault?  Well, I can sum that up in one word: succession.

Succession is the plan of each and every organization of who takes over in the case of absence of a decision maker. Often involved in disaster planning, the concept is just as important in cases of attrition, or mass departures. Every professional sports team performs succession planning when considering how free agency will affect the team.

Think of it in terms of “plan B”.