As everyone knows, the Philadelphia 76ers have been the biggest disaster in the NBA this season. Entering the present campaign, they were widely reckoned to be among the top contenders for the championship. Instead, the team has turned out to be an utter failure, situated among the worst teams in the league with just a tad more than 20 games left on their schedule.
Clearly, the 76ers have nothing to really treasure about this season. They have no other choice but to look forward to the next and hope that their stars turn in a cleaner bill of health with more time away from the hardwood action. Having said that, something obviously has to change for the team, and it is very clear where they should start.
Nick Nurse, who was a much welcome addition to Philly last season, has quickly soured among fans amid this disaster class of a year. The championship coach has been the subject of much division among people following the 76ers, and he has made way too many puzzling choices and omissions to warrant another full season.
The 76ers have a clear successor to Nick Nurse staring at them in the eye
For as shrewd of a coach that Nurse is, he has nothing running for him off of this season other than name value. As a result, the 76ers should seriously consider replacing him during the offseason. Question is, is there anyone primed to succeed him as the man on the sidelines?
Well, there is one, and his name is something pretty familiar to the franchise: Sam Cassell. The former 15-year NBA veteran served as an assistant under Doc Rivers from 2020 to 2023, and has long been one of the more highly heralded assistants in the NBA.
Cassell, known for his great work in developing some of the best guards in the league, has flirted with a head coaching gig a couple of times, and he is now due for a full-scale promotion. The 76ers should see this as an opportunity to steal his knowledge for their own benefit, as the team visibly needs a breath of fresh air off the bench.
Currently serving as an assistant to Joe Mazzulla in Boston, Cassell woud be a terrific fit in Philly. Tyrese Maxey in particular would greatly benefit from having him as a voice of reason.
With Nick Nurse failing so many people this season, the Philadelphia 76ers should pivot quickly. Fortunately for them, someone like Sam Cassell, who is ripe for a promotion given his pedigree, should be readily available to man the daunting job.