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What a news day. October 28 has been full of great hires for the Sixers, with the addition of Daryl Morey to run the team’s basketball operations leading the way. Doc Rivers has also been adding to his impressive coaching staff, and he’ll now be joined by one of his top Clippers assistants as well.
Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported that Sam Cassell will be coming to Philly.
Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell will be added to Doc Rivers’ staff with the #Sixers, according to sources. That was the expectation if he didn’t get a head-coaching gig. pic.twitter.com/aDnLCtozB0
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 28, 2020
This follows news that the Sixers are also adding Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke and Clippers head video coordinator Pete Dominguez to join Rivers’ staff.
If Cassell didn’t land a head coaching job, it was expected that he’d join Rivers in Philly. He got straight into coaching after his successful playing career came to an end in 2008, when he won a championship with Doc’s Boston Celtics. Cassell worked as an assistant coach for the Wizards from 2009-2014, then joined Rivers with the Clippers as an assistant from 2014-2020. His long-time partnership with Rivers should only bode well for the Sixers.
Cassell is highly respected around the NBA and was connected to multiple head coaching jobs this year. He should be a good coach to work with the Sixers’ guards and Ben Simmons thanks to the diverse scoring and playmaking he used as a player. One example of Cassell’s developmental background comes from his time in Washington, as John Wall credited Cassell for being a big part of his development and for his growth as a jump shooter.
Rivers has put together quite the staff. Dan Burke is well regarded for his defensive expertise and playing a key role in the Pacers often ranking among the NBA’s top defenses during his 19 seasons as an assistant in Indiana. He’s somewhat similar to another one of Rivers’ new assistants, Dave Joerger, in this regard. Joerger is also known for his defensive mind, in addition to how he’s implemented different styles and paces in Memphis and Sacramento.
From assembling a loaded coaching staff, to adding Peter Dinwiddie as the new Senior Vice President of Basketball Ops, to landing Daryl Morey to lead basketball operations, the Sixers have made a host of great hires this offseason.