Timberwolves Exec Should Avoid 76ers Disaster Waiting to Happen

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
Matt Lloyd - Minnesota Timberwolves executive
Credit: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly’s phone is already ringing off the hook and Anthony Edwards has already reportedly weighed in on who he wants the Wolves’ front office to pursue this summer.

Meanwhile, as the NBA waits for a 2025-26 Champion to be crowned, Connelly’s right-hand man at Mayo Clinic Square — senior vice president of basketball operations, Matt Lloyd — has been a bit distracted.

Back in late-April, Lloyd — who’s been with the Wolves since 2022 — was a favorite to land the Chicago Bulls President of Basketball Operations job, after making it through multiple stages of the Bulls’ interview process, before he ultimately lost out to Bryson Graham, who was previously the VP PoBO in Atlanta.

It didn’t take long before another organization was on Matt Lloyd’s trail, however. About a month after he was first granted permission to interview for the Bulls job, reports surfaced that Lloyd was a serious candidate with the Philadelphia 76ers, for the open PoBO position.

Last we heard, Lloyd was “expected to interview” with the Sixers, along with former NBA point guard Jameer Nelson — the only internal candidate under consideration in Philly. The other two external executives in the running were reportedly Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and LA Clippers GM Trent Redden.

WNBA GM added as 76ers PoBO competitor vs Matt Lloyd

On Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein dropped a new update on his substack, where he added an additional candidate — Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) GM Nick U’Ren.

There are presently four main candidates in contention to be the 76ers’ next president of basketball operations: Cleveland’s Mike Gansey, Minnesota’s Matt Lloyd, Phoenix Mercury GM Nick U’Ren and Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson.

Marc Stein – Steinline (Substack)

Related: Jeff Teague Puts Timberwolves and Ricky Rubio on Blast

U’Ren has been leading the Mercury since the 2023 WNBA season. Previously, he has worked his way up at Golden State as Warriors Manager of Advanced Scouting (2014) to Director of Basketball Operations (2023).

Before that, he started his basketball scouting journey as the Phoenix Suns Assistant Video Coordinator in 2009. Now, the additional candidate in Philadelphia is worth mentioning.

However, what I found more interesting about today’s Sixers PoBO nugget was how messy the Sixers front office currently seems. In fact, I’m starting to wonder if Matt Lloyd will find the overly-complicated situation worth putting his name on

76ers don’t know what they want to do inside front office

According to Stein, the 76ers are determined to keep BOTH Jameer Nelson AND Bob Myers on in high-ranking positions within the “newly-constructed” front office.

They want Nelson on as general manager and Myers — who was hired by the Sixers ownership group and is leading the PoBO search — will also have “a significant role”.

The closest thing to a sure thing at this juncture: As we first covered more than a week ago in the Sunday Best notes above, it is increasingly expected that Nelson will be promoted to general manager at worst even if an external candidate is hired over him.

He is the only internal candidate in Philly being considered for the top spot by search leader Bob Myers and has been all but assured a significant role going forward no matter how the Sixers proceed.

Marc Stein – Steinline (Substack)

To translate: Whoever is hired as Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations, if it isn’t Nelson, will have him working right below them. Not only that, but Myers — who is in charge of hiring the next PoBO — will then slot in somewhere in and around there too…

Leaving MN Timberwolves for Philly seems risky

But wait, there’s more. Stein’s sources also claim that those in-charge want the next PoBO to keep former GM Elton Brand AND vice president of player personnel, Prosper Karangwa, around in some form or fashion too.

League sources also say that the Sixers remain hopeful that they can retain vice president of player personnel Prosper Karangwa as part of their revamped front office

There have likewise been suggestions that current Sixers general manager Elton Brand will eventually be offered a new role elsewhere in the organization, but for now I’m told Brand continues to scout for the team as it prepares for next month’s draft.

Marc Stein – Steinline (Substack)

In other words, an outside hire could be dropped smack-dab into the middle of a disaster waiting to happen in Philly. Remember, just two years ago (2024), Matt Lloyd turned down an opportunity to lead the Charlotte Hornets front office, to take a promotion with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He may be more jumpy to get the same kind of position now, having waited two years. But how much power would he really have in the City of Brotherly Love? Seems like a legitimate question that Lloyd himself has to be wrestling with…

Mentioned in this article:

More About:

0What do you think?Post a comment.

Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.