Philadelphia 76ers contact Brian Shaw about coaching position

Indiana Pacers’ assistant coach, Brian Shaw, has been officially contacted by the 76ers, about their vacant head coaching job.

According to Dei Lynam of Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia, Shaw will be interviewed by the 76ers once the Pacers are done in the playoffs.

"The Sixers, according to a source, have contacted the Pacers’ associate head coach about their vacant head-coaching position. Because the Pacers are in the playoffs, Shaw will interview for the position when the time is appropriate."

The head coaching position is currently vacant as Doug Collins recently stepped down from the role. He will however accept a front office position. Shaw is a 14 year NBA veteran playing for teams such as the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat and even the 76ers in 1998. He retired after ending his career with the Lakers from 1999-2003 and shortly joined them as an assistant in 2004. In his eight years as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson, Shaw rose to the ranks, became a top assistant and even won a couple of championship rings. The Lakers wanted Shaw as Jackson successor however Jim Buss and management wanted to go in a new direction, hence hiring Mike Brown.

With the hiring of Brown, Shaw later transferred to Indiana where he was an assistant coaching under Frank Vogel. With Vogel and the Pacers, Shaw helped turn that team into a top three team in the eastern conference, even without all-star sensation Danny Granger. Shaw, respected by players around the league and has a tremendous basketball IQ is destined for a head coaching position.

While the 76ers are interested in acquiring Shaw, other teams are also as, if not more interested. Such was the Charlotte Bobcats as Lynam notes. Shaw received an offer last year however he felt him coaching the Bobcats would be a right fit.

This great news for both Shaw and the 76ers. The Sixers have a lot of problems on their hands, since they have to figure out what to do with Andrew Bynum and Evan Turner who is a free agent soon. There’s also the situation about what to do with general manager, Tony DiLeo as his contract is up, pending an extension

The Sixers have key pieces in Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young, but they need to figure out what their long-term goal is. Obviously it’s to win a championship, but that’s too vague. They need to go step by step in a new plan. Acquiring Shaw would defiantly help the process.

Shaw also wins as well as he can get a potential coaching job with a team that isn’t so bad. Hey, it could be worse. He could be only receiving offers from the Orlando Magic, Bobcats and Washington Wizards, all of whom are in dire need of a rebuild. More so than the 76ers. After all. Philadelphia did make the post-season last year. Here’s to Shaw hopefully getting a head coaching position he’s deserved for many years.