PHILADELPHIA — TNT analyst Doug Collins, who has been a coach with three NBA teams, has started negotiating with the 76ers to become their coach.
Team president Ed Stefanski interviewed Collins on May 1, and he emerged as the leading candidate to replace Eddie Jordan, who was fired after going 27-55 in his lone season.
The pool of candidates includes former Dallas coach Avery Johnson, former Toronto coach Sam Mitchell, Phoenix assistant coach Dan Majerle, Houston assistant Elston Turner, Portland assistant Monty Williams and former Pistons star Bill Laimbeer.
Collins went 332-287 in coaching stints with Chicago, Detroit and Washington. The 76ers made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 draft, and he played eight seasons with them.
Nyet to Vandeweghe return
NEW YORK — Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said general manager Kiki Vandeweghe will be let go when his contract expires this summer.
“I wish him well,” Prokhorov said.
NBA owners approved the sale of the Nets to the Russian billionaire last week.
Prokhorov said he does plan to retain team president Rod Thorn.
New Jersey finished 12-70, the franchise’s worst record and only the fifth 70-loss season in league history. Vande- weghe was the interim coach after the Nets fired Lawrence Frank during their 0-18 start, but was only expected to coach until the season ended.
Knicks’ Chandler busted
NEW YORK — Knicks swingman Wilson Chandler was charged with a minor drug offense after police said they found marijuana in his car during a traffic stop Tuesday.
Chandler, 23, and a passenger in the car, Lamonte Yarbrough, were charged with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. They must appear in court July 1.
The Associated Press
