Sixers fans split over hiring of Mike Gansey, a WVU legend who recently traded for 36-year-old James Harden
Gansey he has shown he is not afraid of making big moves, orchestrating trades for Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in recent years to help the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference finals.
The 76ers are hiring Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey as the team’s next president of basketball operations, a source confirmed to The Inquirer on Friday.
Gansey has served as the Cavaliers’ GM under president of basketball operations Kolby Altman since 2022. In that time, he has shown he is not afraid of making big moves. In 2022, he helped orchestrate a trade with the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell, sending away Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton. Then, earlier this season, the Cavaliers landed James Harden from Los Angeles after dealing away Darius Garland, a two-time All-Star.
Gansey will replace Daryl Morey, who was fired on May 12 after six years as the Sixers’ front office lead. The search for Morey’s replacement was conducted primarily by Bob Myers, president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and former Golden State Warriors president of basketball operations. Meanwhile, a decision on Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson’s future role with the team has not been made clear.
Here’s what Sixers fans and onlookers are saying on social media about Gansey’s hiring ...
Changing of the guards
It has been rare to find in recent years, but there is an influx of positivity on Sixers Twitter right now. Many of the pro-Gansey posters have pointed to his track record with the Cavaliers and the team’s recent relevancy under his reign as enough reasoning to support the move.
Ball don’t lie
Meanwhile, other fans are pumped that Gansey was a bit of a baller in his own right. The Sixers’ new front office lead played at West Virginia — alongside La Salle men’s basketball head coach Darris Nichols — before playing overseas and in the NBA G League.
Nichols, himself, also expressed excitement about his former teammate coming to town.
Not celebrating just yet
Of course, not everyone is planning the Sixers parade route next year.
Some fans took to social media to voice their disapproval with the hiring — many of which were eyeing different candidates in the Sixers’ publicized search. Others felt Gansey’s trade for James Harden, who famously did not work out in Philadelphia, was enough reason not to trust him the the keys to the franchise.
Meanwhile, others are preparing Gansey for the realities of Sixers basketball, which has not been pretty as of late, especially when it comes to injuries.