Report: Adam Silver Had 'Significant Hand' In Jerry Colangelo Joining Sixers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On Monday, the Sixers announced that longtime sports executive and owner, and the current Director of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo was joining the front office as Chairman of Basketball Operations and Advisor to the Managing General Partner.
The move is instantly being viewed as the Sixers identifying the need for more experience in the front office, that some speculate will lead to more experienced players on the court.
As Colangelo sat in the front row of the Wells Fargo Center on Monday night, he watched his new Sixers team lose to the Spurs 119-68 on a night where the Spurs rested Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard.
The arrival of Colangelo, on a night where the Sixers were completely dismantled, begged the question -- why did Colangelo want to come here?
When he was introduced on Monday, Colangelo explained that Joshua Harris reached out to him and convinced him to come aboard and that he was intrigued by working with and being a mentor for Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie.
However, a USA Today report suggests that there may have been another factor in Colangelo's decision.
According to the report, Commissioner Adam Silver had a "significant hand," the Sixers decision to hire Colangelo.
The report adds that Silver himself made a call to the Hall of Fame executive to see if he had any interest in joining the Sixers.
The report suggests that this is not merely about the Sixers adding Colangelo to the team for his name, but to speed up the process of rebuilding the team.
