NBA owners have been telling the league they're unhappy with the steps taken by the Philadelphia 76ers in their rebuilding process, ultimately leading to the Sixers' hiring of Jerry Colangelo on Monday, sources told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Displeased with the financial strain the woeful 76ers are placing on the rest of the league, other owners lobbied the NBA, and specifically commissioner Adam Silver, to help change the direction in Philadelphia, sources told ESPN.com. As a result, Silver reportedly played a big part in creating the relationship between Colangelo and 76ers owner Joshua Harris that eventually led to his hiring as chairman of basketball operations.
Though general manager Sam Hinkie will retain roster control, Colangelo brings a wide breadth of experience as the former owner and general manager of the Phoenix Suns, and it is believed he will help to lessen the pressure on the team to deliver financially for the rest of the league.
Despite being one of the largest markets in the NBA, Philadelphia's inability to compete on the court in recent years has kept it from contributing to the league's revenue sharing as would be expected, the owners reportedly complained. The 76ers (1-21) have also failed to be any kind of a draw on the road, delivering season-low attendance in opponent buildings, the sources said.
These factors reportedly had other owners fed up with the situation in Philadelphia and wanting Silver to force some kind of change at the front-office level.
