NBA News: The Other Teams 76ers Target Nick Nurse Will Meet

The Toronto Raptors’ Nick Nurse era wrapped up last month after the team failed to make the playoffs through the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament.

Weeks before the Raptors attempted to make a playoff push, Nick Nurse had an unfiltered view on his future with the Raptors’ organization just hours before tipping off against the Philadelphia 76ers.

To summarize, Nurse made it clear that he would reflect after going on a ten-year run in Toronto, and a potential change couldn’t be ruled out. While it sounded like Nurse could be on the path to stepping down, the Raptors made the call before he could — and fired Nurse after hiring him in 2018.

To no surprise, Nurse quickly became one of the NBA’s most notable names on the market after he was canned by Toronto. Entering the coaching carousel, Nurse hits the open market with a championship and a Coach of the Year nod on his resume.

With several championship-hopeful teams searching for a new leader, Nurse is expected to meet with a few organizations throughout the offseason. According to a report from The Athletic, there are three teams that are planning to schedule a visit with Nurse.

“One major name on the carousel is Nick Nurse, who was let go by the Raptors after five seasons that included Toronto’s first NBA title. He is expected to begin his formal process with meetings with Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Philadelphia and is expected to be in high demand and could possibly have his job to choose from, essentially his own selection process."

Earlier this week, the Sixers closed the book on the Doc Rivers chapter. As the Sixers failed to make it past the second round of the playoffs in every season under Rivers’ management, Daryl Morey and the team’s Managing Partners decided it was time for a new voice.

The Sixers have six coaches in mind at the moment. Daryl Morey and the team confirmed that Nurse would be considered. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Thursday that Nurse is expected to meet with the Sixers sometime in the near future.

While Nurse possesses many of the qualities that the Sixers are looking for and has worked with Daryl Morey in the past prior to his run as the Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations, Philadelphia has some tough competition in the market for Nurse.

Both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns have ready-to-win-now rosters. The fact that both teams made NBA Finals appearances just two seasons ago might give them more of an edge over the Sixers, who haven’t advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals since 2001.

Nurse remains a prospect in the Sixers’ search to replace Doc Rivers, but it’s unclear how long that might last, as they have some tough competition at this time.

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