The Philadelphia 76ers have received permission to interview Atlanta Hawks assistant coaches Quin Snyder and Kenny Atkinson for their head coaching vacancy, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports. It's the final remaining opening among the 30 NBA teams this summer.
With the 76ers embarking on a major rebuilding project under new GM Sam Hinkie, the team's coaching search has taken a backseat to re-working the team's roster. Considering the 2013-14 season will be more about position in the draft order than the standings for Philly, most big coaching names haven't even been considered for the gig.
Following the departure of Andrew Bynum and the trade of Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia looks positioned to be one of the worst teams in the league next season. As a result, it wouldn't be surprising if the Sixers took a chance on a first-time coach who could potentially grow along with the team's top young players, including Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel.
Snyder or Atkinson would qualify as a forward-thinking hire for the Sixers. The former was recently brought in by Atlanta after a stint with CSKA Moscow in Russia, with his last head coaching experienced coming roughly seven years ago at the University of Missouri, while the latter only has assistant experience in New York and Atlanta.
After firing the old-school Doug Collins following a disappointing 2012-13 season, it appears highly likely the Sixers go a younger, more progressive route this time around.
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