Sixers in talks to add D'Antoni as associate head coach

It turns out that Jerry Colangelo doesn't have to be in Philadelphia to have an influence on the 76ers.

The team's recently hired chairman of basketball operations is in talks with Mike D'Antoni to become an associate head coach with the Sixers, according to league sources. Yahoo Sports first reported the news. The website said that Colangelo and coach Brett Brown have spoken to D'Antoni about a role on the Sixers bench that could be filled in late December.

However, D'Antoni will not be the lone candidate as the Sixers look to fill gaps in their coaching roster.  There's a sense that the Sixers are happy with their young set of coaches. However, they just want to add a more experienced coach to the mix, something that's desperately needed.

The Sixers introduced Colangelo as chairman on Monday. The former four-time  executive of the year for the Phoenix Suns flew back to Phoenix on Tuesday.

D'Antoni and Colangelo have a relationship that dates back the Suns

and USA basketball. The 64-year-old D'Antoni spent five seasons as the Suns head coach.Colangelo owned the Suns when D'Antoni was named their coach in 2003. He coached four teams in a total of  12 seasons.

He spent 36 games with the Denver Nuggets, four seasons for the New York Knicks , and two with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers