Sixers rumors: Doc Rivers’ contract includes hefty salary

The Sixers spared no expense to bring on Doc Rivers. 

Last week, the Philadelphia 76ers hired Doc Rivers as the franchise’s 25th head coach, replacing the recently departed Brett Brown. It was reported as a five-year contract, putting Rivers firmly in the Sixers’ short and long-term plans.

The decision was met with near universal praise. Rivers is the 11th winningest coach in NBA history and has been in the league for two decades. He won a championship with Boston in 2008, and lifted the Clippers out of the Lakers’ shadow in LA.

That kind of resume costs a lot, and it’s clear the Sixers spared no expense in bringing Rivers to South Philly. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Sixers offered Rivers a “pretty healthy five-year contract” in line with what he made in Los Angeles. That number was later fleshed out as roughly $8 million per season.

If anything, this does prove that Philadelphia is willing to pay to win. With the highest payroll in basketball and Brett Brown still under contract for two more seasons, many questioned whether the Sixers would willingly pay top dollar for a new head coach. That’s why many grew skeptical of Ty Lue, who was expected to command $7 million per year.

In the end, the Sixers paid top dollar for the most experienced and accomplished coach on the market. There’s a debate to be had about whether Rivers is truly the coach to push Philadelphia over the top, but he brings instant credibility to the locker room and the sidelines. The Sixers could have done much worse.

Also of note is Rivers’ potential sway in the front office. While Rivers had an official front office title when he signed with the Clippers, the Sixers did not give him such a title. Even so, in his introductory press conference, Rivers said he and Elton Brand would collaborate. The Sixers are notorious for not letting just one voice control decision-making, so expect Rivers to have a prominent voice in what goes on behind the scenes.