Sixers rumors: Tyronn Lue the heavy favorite for next head coach

The Sixers and Tyronn Lue seem destined for one another.

The Philadelphia 76ers ousted Brett Brown after a disappointing end to a disappointing season. While the next head coach has not yet been named, smoke has consumed the organization. And when there’s smoke, more often than not, there’s fire.

Tyronn Lue, of Allen Iverson step-over fame, is the overwhelming favorite to take the Sixers job. According to 94WIP’s Jon Johnson, Lue is “close to a deal” to become Philadelphia’s next head coach. This comes not long after reports of “strong mutual interest” between the Sixers and Lue.

While the Sixers’ search is still ongoing, according to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice, Lue does appear to have the upper ground. We have reached the point where a hire different than Lue would shock a lot of people, especially with Villanova’s Jay Wright bowing out of his candidacy.

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Lue is one of the best options out there. The more it settles in as a possibility, the more it makes sense. Lue is a tremendous offensive tactician who is unafraid to experiment and change on the fly — a very notable weakness of Brett Brown. He is also highly respected among players, and earned his reputation as someone who can manage star personalities.

While we tend to discredit coaches who have success with LeBron James, Lue did a great job in Cleveland. He stood up to LeBron in the locker room and on the sidelines, yet never lost respect or support. He also has a ring, which is the ultimate indicator of head coaching success. LeBron has been a guaranteed championship appearance for the last decade, but even so, credit where credit is due.

Lue is someone who will command respect and whose voice should carry weight in the locker room. Many questioned whether or not Brown’s message had expired by the time he was let go. Accountability — another major criticism of Brown — is a strong suit for Lue.

This would be a very good hire for Philadelphia. We have seen Erik Spoelstra blossom in Miami post-LeBron. Maybe Lue can have similar success in proving his coaching chops outside the looming shadow of King James.