When he was originally hired by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the sense was that Bob Myers wouldn’t focus specifically on the Sixers and wouldn’t have a major voice in the team’s basketball operations decisions. Myers’ new position required him to be involved with the company’s other sports holdings, including the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Crystal Palace F.C. in the Premier League, and seemed to focus more on big-picture business decisions rather than day-to-day basketball moves.
Still, the remarks that he and Sixers managing partner Josh Harris made at last week’s press conference in the wake of Daryl Morey‘s dismissal strongly suggested that Myers’ influence in the 76ers’ basketball operations department is increasing, according to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required), who got the sense that Morey’s replacement might end up being more of a “figurehead” while Myers takes on more responsibilities. Is that actually the case?
“Josh desperately wants Bob to run the team,” one source told Hayes. “Bob desperately does not want to run the team.”
Hayes adds that a team source disputed the idea that Harris is “desperate” for Myers to run the Sixers’ front office.
Either way, Hayes writes, Myers isn’t working out of Philadelphia and has no plans to do so; he also continues to oversee the progress of Harris Blitzer’s other teams. With that in mind, Hayes argues that it’s imperative for the 76ers to hire a “capable, autonomous” executive rather than one who will have to frequently defer to Myers on day-to-day decisions.
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