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Report: Sixers Have Another Head Coach Candidate

By Spike Eskin

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It seems as though there has never been less information leaking out of the Sixers organization than there is right now. Sam Hinkie has been quiet publicly since his introductory press conference, undoubtedly fully entrenched in the giant reclamation project he has on his hands.

A report from the Philadelphia Inquirer indicates that the Sixers have interest in Nuggets assistant coach Melvin Hunt, but have not made a formal request to interview him. Hunt has been with the Nuggets for three seasons, and spent the five previous years with the Cavaliers as an assistant coach. Hunt is also considered to be a candidate for the Nuggets head coaching vacancy, created when the team let go of George Karl last week.

This is the sort of candidate that would make sense for the Sixers, a young assistant coach with a smaller profile, who would be willing to learn and grow with what will potentially be a young, bad team. Most important to this entire process, will be the willingness to work with Sam Hinkie on not only personnel, but the style of basketball the team plays. The Houston Rockets style of spreading the floor and shooting a high number of three point shots, while attempting to get to the free throw line as much as possible is a style created by not only the coach, but the front office that Hinkie was a part of.

Though names like Lionel Hollins, George Karl and Brian Shaw are some of the higher profile coaches that are available, they're not likely to wind up with the Sixers. Hollins seems adamantly against the use of analytics, which is why he's no longer in Memphis. Karl would likely be more interested in a higher profile job with a better chance of winning, like the Los Angeles Clippers, while Shaw is rumored to be a candidate for that job as well, along with the Brooklyn Nets.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Sixers have shown interest in Heat assistant David Fizdale. The Sixers have also been linked to Rockets assistant Chris Finch.

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