Inside the Sixers: If Sixers have direction, it's time to start moving

One year ago, 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski had a list of potential coaches who looked, give or take a few names, exactly like this year's list.

Of course, this year's list is minus Eddie Jordan, whom Stefanski hired last year and fired two weeks ago: a tumultuous 10 months that included 27 victories, 55 losses and much confusion.

Even before his firing, Jordan seemed poised to become the next coach at Rutgers; on Tuesday, Jordan surprisingly withdrew his name from consideration.

When announcing Jordan's dismissal, Stefanski sat alone, which seemed an omen for his fate as well. In that moment, it didn't seem too distant in the future when Stefanski would be the subject, not the starring member, of another news conference, this one announcing Comcast-Spectacor's decision to "go in a different direction" with its basketball decision-making.

But that hasn't happened. What also hasn't happened is a public declaration that Stefanski's job is safe. As of right now, his job isn't guaranteed. And what we have is a coaching search that's playing out with remarkably similar candidates.

Here's what we have so far: Former NBA coach and TNT analyst Doug Collins, contacted. Former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, contacted. On the list: Dwane Casey, assistant coach with the Mavericks; Tom Thibodeau, assistant coach with the Boston Celtics; and Mike Budenholzer, assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. Also reportedly being discussed internally: former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, former NBA head coach Mike Fratello, and former Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. And on the periphery, Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson, whose team is one game from a surprising first-round elimination.

If you look back to last May, almost all of the aforementioned names overlap. Two weeks ago, when Stefanski spoke about this search, it sounded as if he was minutes away from locking himself in his basement to inspect the resume of every man and woman who'd every dribbled a basketball. He'd form a list of new guys on the upswing of their careers - and, of course, surely some rebound guys who've proven themselves worthy of another go. It would be a compelling database of young, sharp coaches poised for the challenge.

Somewhere within all those names would certainly be someone ideal for this team and this organization: a coach who would mesh with the team's game plan and culture.

Right?

But of course that's impossible, because there's an even bigger problem: There doesn't seem to be a plan or a culture. That's the more pressing vacancy than the coaching. It's possible the team's next coach will fill these gaps with his own philosophy, will drag this franchise from darkness to light.

But that's quite an onus.

If Stefanski stays - and that's an issue in itself - and hires any of the aforementioned men, most of whom are strong candidates, the Sixers still have a situation where some players fit one style, others fit another, and none seems particularly thrilled to be a part of this organization.

So what's the plan? Maybe, two years ago, Stefanski didn't owe the fans an explanation. Maybe then he could have been ambiguous, say he was working hard to make the right decision. That would have been all he owed. Maybe last season he had the leverage to keep silent and make any coaching hire he wanted.

Not anymore.

If Stefanski stays, then he must prove he has a plan to revamp this team. Because right now, if you look at the above collection of coaching names, it appears as if the Sixers are going to recycle everyone else's coaching lists, hire a coach who has no more affiliation to this roster and this organization than a tourist, which could be a good thing if everyone else - Ed Snider, Peter Luukko, Stefanski - does something unlikely and allows him to do his job.

Not many fans want Stefanski to be making this decision, because the team appears directionless and if there is a direction, they've done a good job of making random decisions that make it appear as if there isn't any direction.

It doesn't seem the Sixers' fan base is asking for an instant fix. The fans are frustrated because their team appears directionless. You can't get on board if the boat is tossing and turning and won't hold steady. When that happens, you just want to get out of its way.

So steady the ship. Make the plan known so there's a reason to pay attention, so there's understanding about the direction of the franchise. Even if that means the direction is downward for at least one more season, maybe two.

Fans could live with that, might even embrace it.

This franchise needs some innovative, outside-the-box thinking. Of course Snider, Luukko, and Stefanski could woo Collins or Casey or Thibodeau. And of course the Sixers could get from 27 wins to 35, 40 wins. And guess what? The Wachovia Center would still be half full. And there would still be no greatness in the team's future, just hanging around waiting for lightning to strike.

What's the plan? What's the team's culture? Is Stefanski in or out? If he's in, then hopefully he was forced to outline where this whole thing was headed, a direction that if shared might help fans overcome their current frustration with his previous decisions, one that might allow them to support this forthcoming decision.

If Stefanski is out, then get it done and give the reins to someone who can see this franchise, and this roster, with un-goggled, unbiased, vision.

Because as of Thursday evening, it wasn't a good-looking scene.