Ten potential candidates to replace Daryl Morey as the Sixers’ lead executive

The search for the 76ers’ new day-to-day lead basketball operations executive has begun, after Bob Myers met with the existing front office at the NBA draft combine in Chicago and then addressed the Philly media for the first time at a Thursday news conference.

Myers, the president of Harris Bitzer Sports & Entertainment and former top executive during the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, said he is looking for a leader who “can check as many of those boxes as possible” in such a wide-ranging role — and self-identify areas that are not their strengths. Myers hopes to make this hire in time for the draft and free agency in late June, but that he will take “as much time as required to get the best person.”

It is clear that Myers is also going to remain involved beyond this search, saying the setup will be “them, plus me.” What types of candidates will that attract? The arrangement can be positive for those who previously worked with Myers, or are interested in collaborating with a four-time NBA champion and two-time Executive of the Year. Or, that could deter those looking for a clear promotion and authority, or who already hold similar high-ranking positions at other organizations.

» READ MORE: The six most important quotes from Bob Myers and Josh Harris as they start the search for a new front-office leader

Surprise candidates emerge from these job searches all the time. But here are 10 people who could make sense as candidates.

Brand held the top front-office title before Daryl Morey, and remained with the Sixers throughout that six-year tenure despite drawing interest from other franchises.

As a former top overall draft pick and 17-year veteran, Brand is known for building strong relationships with players and within an organization. As a roster builder, Brand pulled off the Jimmy Butler trade. He also dealt for Tobias Harris and, more egregiously, signed him to a five-year, $180 million contract and also inked Al Horford to a four-year, $109 million deal.

It is reasonable to expect that Brand benefited from his experience under Morey. When asked about Brand’s candidacy Thursday, Myers said they met in Chicago and will have deeper discussions to “figure out what we think is best.”

“But we haven’t gotten to that level of detail with any of that yet,” Myers said.

Rozman is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s vice president of identification and intelligence, where he spearheads the draft process and is part of player evaluation for the NBA champion that has masterfully built a deep and talented roster.

But before joining Oklahoma City in 2022, he spent 16 years working his way up with the Sixers from basketball operations intern to assistant general manager. He was instrumental in the 2020 draft that landed the Sixers Tyrese Maxey and, in the second round, Isaiah Joe, whom the Thunder signed after the Sixers released him after two seasons, in 2022.

When Rozman departed for Oklahoma City, Morey and fellow former Sixers lead executive Sam Hinkie praised his work with the organization.

» READ MORE: Murphy: What Bob Myers didn’t say about Joel Embiid — and himself — spoke volumes

“At some point soon, someone really smart is going to hand him the keys,” Hinkie posted on X (formerly Twitter) then.

Olshey, the former Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers executive, has been a Sixers consultant since 2023. He was available for such a gig because the Trail Blazers fired him following an internal investigation that he violated the team’s code of conduct by creating a hostile work environment.

On the court, Olshey oversaw Portland’s era fueled by Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and was with the Clippers in various roles during the “Lob City” era. Per a source, Olshey is considered to have a close relationship with Myers.

Schlenk was an assistant general manager under Myers with the Warriors, and is generally credited with identifying defensive stalwart Draymond Green as a 2012 second-round draft pick.

He then went on to run basketball operations for the Atlanta Hawks, where he was the architect behind the team that upset the Sixers in the 2021 playoffs. He drafted Trae Young — or, depending on one’s vantage point, traded the pick that became Luka Doncic — along with Kevin Huerter and John Collins to create a roster once viewed as up-and-coming but never reached those Eastern Conference Finals heights again.

Since 2023, Schlenk has been the vice president of player personnel for the Washington Wizards, who, after years of “tanking,” finally appear to have some direction after trading for Young and Anthony Davis last season and landing the draft’s No. 1 overall pick.

U’Ren spent nine seasons in various roles with the Warriors’ coaching staff and front office before becoming general manager of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. Last year, he constructed a revamped Mercury roster that made a surprise run to the WNBA Finals.

His NBA experience ranges from video coordinating, to scouting, to player evaluation. He is a Phoenix native and began his career with the Suns and Mercury.

» READ MORE: The five biggest challenges Daryl Morey’s successor will face with the Sixers

Saleh is a longshot candidate, considering he has already ascended to the top front-office role with the Atlanta Hawks. He led the Hawks’ transition out of the Young era, and recently pulled off shrewd moves to sign 2026 NBA Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker and make a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans that gives Atlanta the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft. The Hawks were one of the NBA’s hottest teams in the second half of the regular season, before losing to the New York Knicks in the playoffs’ first round.

Before his tenure in Atlanta, Saleh spent three seasons under Myers as Golden State’s vice president of basketball strategy & team counsel. Prior to that, he was with the San Antonio Spurs for five seasons under legends Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford, rising to director of strategy & process and chief of staff.

The former Sixer and Finals MVP with the Warriors does not have NBA front office experience. But he has been the National Basketball Players Association Executive Director since 2023, after serving on the organization’s executive committee for more than a decade.

The Sixers have recently developed former players Brand and Jameer Nelson into front-office roles. If Myers remains heavily involved, this could be a feasible setup.

» READ MORE: Who is Bob Myers? Five things to know about HBSE’s president leading the search for Daryl Morey’s replacement

Lloyd is the Minnesota Timberwolves general manager under the highly respected Tim Connelly, and was once considered the front-runner to be hired as the Bulls’ vice president of basketball operations before Chicago instead went with Bryson Graham.

Lloyd has been part of a Minnesota front office that executed the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster trade, and built a roster that was still alive in the NBA playoffs entering Friday and made the Western Conference Finals the previous two seasons.

Before that, Lloyd spent 10 seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he oversaw scouting and held titles of vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager. He also was with the Bulls for 13 seasons in a variety of roles inside and outside of basketball operations, including in scouting, special projects, and media coordination.

Lindsey is the senior vice president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, who this season ascended to the Eastern Conference’s top seed. But he is best known as the former lead executive of the Utah Jazz during the Donovan Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era. He resigned from his position with the Jazz in 2021.

Lindsey, who has roughly 30 years of NBA experience, also previously held scouting and basketball operations roles with the Spurs and Houston Rockets, and was an advisor for the Dallas Mavericks for the 2023-24 season before joining the Pistons.

Lindsey also was a reported finalist for the Bulls’ lead executive job. It is worth wondering if he would consider the role with the Sixers, where he might not be the bona fide top decision-maker.

» READ MORE: Sixers owner Josh Harris said it was tough to part ways with Daryl Morey

Lewin, also a reported candidate for the Bulls’ job, is the Boston Celtics’ assistant general manager.

His responsibilities have included scouting and player personnel — and as the G League’s Maine Red Claws’ general manager — while working for NBA Executive of the Year Brad Stevens. This season’s revamped Celtics put together a terrific regular season before getting upset by the Sixers in the playoffs’ first round.