Sixers rumors: Ime Udoka could leave for Pelicans

Ime Udoka will probably walk a different sideline next season.

Last season, Brett Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers pried Ime Udoka away from Gregg Popovich’s staff in San Antonio. Udoka served as Brown’s lead assistant and his defensive coordinator. He was rumored to be in contention for the head coaching job after Brown’s dismissal, but Udoka’s name never picked up steam.

Now, Udoka’s tenure in Philadelphia seems short-lived. All signs point to him finding a new home for 2020-21 — a home that could reside in the bayou, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Udoka is reportedly “under consideration” to join the newly-hired Stan Van Gundy in New Orleans.

While Udoka’s departure is not guaranteed, Doc Rivers’ decision to hire Dave Joerger — a defensive specialist expected to serve as Rivers’ top assistant — could mean the writing is on the wall.

Udoka, who has been under consideration for multiple head coaching gigs in the past, can probably find a better role elsewhere. Rivers presumably wants to build his own staff. Kevin Young, another former Brown assistant, has already left to join Monty Williams in Phoenix.

This is not to say the Sixers wouldn’t miss Udoka. While his success as defensive coordinator is open to debate, he’s clearly a talented coach with valuable NBA experience. Udoka was a player in the league for six season before joining Popovich’s staff in 2012, where he stayed until his move to Philadelphia last year.

The Spurs’ coaching tree has its roots in more franchises than any other organization. It’s only a matter of time, it seems, until Udoka gets his shot as head coach. In New Orleans, he would probably serve as Van Gundy’s second-in-command. It wouldn’t be shocking to see other teams take interest in Udoka’s services, too.

The Sixers have a more than capable head coach-assistant coach duo in Rivers and Joerger. Expect other names to emerge on Rivers’ radar as well — with Sam Cassell, a former assistant of his in LA, the most exciting possibility.