yahoo - 5/21/2026 5:31:29 PM - GMT (+2 )
The Philadelphia 76ers are on the clock. After parting ways with Daryl Morey, the franchise has tasked Bob Myers — President of Sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment — with running basketball operations in the interim while leading the search for a new President of Basketball Operations. Myers has set a (soft) target of having someone in place before the NBA Draft on June 23. Below is a running list of names that have been reported in connection with the job, updated as new information surfaces.
Vince Rozman, VP of Identification & Intelligence, OKC Thunder First reported by Philly Inquirer, May 16
Rozman spent 16 years with the Sixers, joining the organization under Sam Hinkie in 2013 and working his way up through various roles in basketball operations. He was heavily involved in draft preparation and was credited by both Hinkie and Morey as a key behind-the-scenes contributor. In 2022 he left Philadelphia to join Sam Presti’s staff in Oklahoma City, where he now oversees the Thunder’s draft evaluation and strategy — one of the most respected draft operations in the league. His deep familiarity with both the Sixers organization and the gold standard of modern front office building makes him one of the more intriguing names in this search.
Elton Brand, GM, Philadelphia 76ers First reported by Philly Inquirer, May 16
Brand has been tied to the Sixers organization since his playing days, eventually transitioning into front office work and ascending to GM in 2018. He led the coaching search that landed Doc Rivers before stepping back from lead decision-making duties when Morey arrived. Rather than walking away, Brand stayed on as Morey’s top lieutenant for the entirety of his tenure. He was a candidate for the Hawks’ lead executive role last year before withdrawing from the search, suggesting there is outside interest in his abilities.
Jameer Nelson, Assistant GM, Philadelphia 76ersUpdate, May 21 (The Athletic)
Tony Jones of The Athletic reported on Thursday morning that multiple league sources indicate “that Nelson, among others, is a candidate to become the 76ers’ next president of basketball operations. He is Philadelphia’s strongest internal candidate, as he served this season as assistant general manager.” Jones added that even if Nelson doesn’t take over Daryl Morey’s role, “he is a favorite to receive a promotion, league sources say.”
First reported by Marc Stein, May 17-18Nelson may not be considered a top candidate for the PoBO job itself, but Stein noted there has been chatter all season about an expanded role for him regardless of who is hired. Nelson is held in high regard within the organization and has been described as a rising candidate to run his own team someday.
Travis Schlenk, SVP of Player Personnel, Washington Wizards First reported by Philly Inquirer, May 16
Schlenk is one of the more experienced names on this list, having spent 13 years with the Warriors where he served as assistant GM to Myers and played a significant role in building their dynasty, including being credited with identifying Draymond Green in the second round of the 2012 draft. He parlayed that into the top job with the Hawks, serving as GM and President of Basketball Operations for five seasons and leading Atlanta to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. He joined the Wizards in 2023 in a player personnel role. Like several others on this list, his Warriors connection to Myers is likely a key reason his name has surfaced here.
Tim Connelly, President of Basketball Operations, Minnesota TimberwolvesFirst reported by Marc Stein, May 17-18
Connelly has built two different franchises into contenders, assembling the core of Denver’s 2023 championship team before departing for Minnesota, where he put together back-to-back Western Conference Finals rosters. His contract with the Timberwolves is set to expire soon, which has put his name in play across multiple searches this offseason. Dallas tried and failed to land him earlier this summer, and Minnesota is expected to retain him, making him a longshot. But his track record (and blockbuster deals) speak for itself.
Nick U’Ren, GM, Phoenix MercuryUpdate, May 21 (The Athletic)
Nick U’Ren, currently the general manager for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, is “expected to interview for [Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations], according to league sources.”
First reported by Marc Stein, May 18U’Ren spent nearly a decade with the Warriors, working under Myers as a special assistant and advanced scout before departing in 2023 to become GM of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. In his first two seasons he turned an aging roster into a WNBA Finals contender, showcasing the kind of roster-building instincts that made him a name to watch. His direct connection to Myers is clear, and the question surrounding him is simply whether he is ready to make the leap to the top job at the NBA level after such a successful turnaround in the WNBA.
Mike Gansey, GM, Cleveland CavaliersUpdate, May 21 (The Athletic)
Tony Jones of The Athletic reports that Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey is “considered a strong candidate to take over for Morey, according to league sources.”
First reported by Marc Stein, May 18Gansey has spent his entire career climbing the ladder within the Cavaliers organization, starting as a seasonal assistant in 2011 and working his way up to GM in 2022. Along the way he won G League Executive of the Year in 2017 and has been a key part of building a Cleveland team that is currently in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. His name also surfaced in the Bulls’ search this offseason, underlining the respect he has earned around the league as one of the better young executives in the game.
Trent Redden, GM, Los Angeles Clippers First reported by Kevin O’Connor, May 19
Redden spent 12 years with the Cavaliers, rising from a scout to assistant GM and VP of basketball operations, before joining the Clippers as assistant GM in 2017. He was promoted to GM in 2023 following Michael Winger’s departure to Washington and has quickly earned a reputation as one of the sharper talent evaluators in the league. He has no direct Warriors connection to Myers, making him a bit of an outlier on this list compared to several other candidates.
Matt Lloyd, GM, Minnesota Timberwolves First reported by Marc Stein, May 19
Lloyd got his start in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls back in 1994, beginning as a game-day employee before rising to director of college scouting under the late Jerry Krause. He later spent a decade with the Orlando Magic before joining Tim Connelly’s staff in Minnesota, where he was promoted to GM in 2024. He was a finalist for the Bulls’ lead executive job this offseason before Chicago hired Bryson Graham, and he has been viewed around the league as a top-of-the-line GM candidate for some time. His connection to Connelly makes him an interesting name given Connelly’s own ties to this search.
Onsi Saleh, GM, Atlanta HawksUpdate, May 19 (Marc Stein)
Stein reported Tuesday that the Sixers have conceded Saleh will not be available to them. Barring a significant change, it is safe to consider his name off the board.
First reported by Marc Stein, May 17-18Saleh is widely regarded as one of the brightest young executives in the league. Before becoming the Hawks GM he spent three seasons working directly under Myers with the Warriors, giving him a direct connection to the man running Philadelphia’s search. He finished second in Executive of the Year voting in his first season running Atlanta, a testament to how quickly he has established himself and turned things around for Atlanta. He is considered a longshot given that the Hawks are unlikely to grant permission for an interview, but the fact that Myers wants to explore it speaks to how highly he is regarded.
Neil Olshey, Sixers ConsultantUpdate, May 19 (Marc Stein)
Marc Stein has reported this week that Neil Olshey, who has served as a Sixers consultant for the past three seasons, “is not pursuing the job and won’t be part of this Myers-led search” for a new President of Basketball Operations in Philly. Stein added that his sources say Olshey could remain with the organization in an advisory role, though.
First reported by Philly Inquirer, May 16Olshey has one of the more decorated resumes in this search, having served as GM of the Clippers during their Lob City era before taking over as GM of the Trail Blazers, where he drafted Damian Lillard and built one of the more consistent playoff teams of the last decade. He was fired in 2021 following an investigation into a hostile work environment, which remains a legitimate concern for any organization considering him. He has been a Sixers consultant since 2023 and is considered to have a close relationship with Myers, which is likely what keeps his name in the conversation.
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