It was too quiet in Camden for the Sixers to be pursuing a realistic replacement for former general manager Bryan Colangelo, who resigned in disgrace in June after Burnergate. The team reportedly approached a handful of star GMs who were already under contract with contenders, but that was largely seen as a ruse. They couldn't have been serious. All around the league, and all through the team's practice facility, there simply was no buzz.
It was obvious: Head coach Brett Brown, freshly signed through 2021-22, had ascended to power. Having served for five years under two very flawed general managers, he was never going to give it up.