According to sources the Philadelphia 76ers are close to signing a deal with former Portland Trail Blazers front office man, Tom Penn, as their new general manager. Penn would replace president Rod Thorn, who is set to move to a smaller advisory role with the team.
Thorn has come to the last part of three-year contract that was agreed to with former owner, Ed Snider. The contract also suggested that Thorn is to serve another five years as a team advisor. It is believed that Thorn will move towards his new role when Penn becomes the general manager.
Aside from being a former Trail Blazers executive, Penn is a familiar NBA analyst on ESPN, where he’s been working at since 2010. He’s regularly featured on as a basketball operations expert on advanced analytics, salary cap issues, the NBA Draft, player trades and collective bargaining issues.
It would be in the 76ers best interest to ink Penn because of his knowledge on salaries and cap space management. Since the Sixers have signed numerous short-term contracts (Nick Young, Kwame Brown, Royal Ivey), it would be ideal to have someone in the front office who is prepared to mediate the money issues that could possibly plague the Philadelphia franchise.
For seven seasons Penn worked for the Memphis Grizzlies as the team’s assistant general manager from 2000-2007 and was a former attorney and player agent.
As a man of many hats it seems as though this cap salary cowboy is galloping seamlessly to Graceland in a cushy seat in the 76ers front office.
Tyler R. Tynes is the Featured Columnist for the Philadelphia 76ers with Rant Sports, Beat Writer covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Buzz On Broad and 76ers Analyst for Philly Sports Nut
Follow me on Twitter @RealTylerTynes for all Sixers and NBA sports updates. And also follow me on Instagram @TheRealTylerTynes.
For any inquiries contact me via email TylerRickyTynes@Gmail.com
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July 25, 2012
