HoopsHype.com Rumors

“I told you, let’s talk about the basketball game. You drove a long way here for that. There’s nothing to put to bed. Guys, you’re not going to trick me. Let’s go. What do you want to talk about? I want to talk about the basketball game. The focus is not me.” Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

Christopher A. Vito: Doug Collins: "I have a good relationship w/ Josh Harris, & we will discuss what we need to do next year.” bit.ly/159h0IH | #sixers Twitter @ChrisVito

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

Christopher A. Vito: Doug Collins to media: "What do you want to talk about?" Reply: "You don't want to talk about it." Doug: "The focus is not me." #sixers Twitter @ChrisVito

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

If Doug Collins does not return to coach the Philadelphia 76ers next season, it won’t be because the Sixers want him out, according to a league source as well as Collins' agent. CSNPhilly.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

The source said the Sixers are completely supportive of Collins as he heads into the last season of his contract as the team's head coach. CSNPhilly.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

The source said the Sixers never had discussions about replacing Collins. Accordingly, Aron told CSNPhilly.com in an interview in March that the Sixers hoped Collins would coach the team for many years. CSNPhilly.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

The Sixers, through team spokesperson, chose not to respond to the report. Collins' agent John Langel did respond, telling Phillyburbs.com that Collins is in control of his future with the team. CSNPhilly.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

In the wake of a published report saying the organization privately hopes Doug Collins doesn’t return next season as 76ers coach, his agent claims it will be Collins’ call. “The relationship with Doug, me and Sixers management has been terrific,” said John Langel during a Thursday afternoon telephone conversation. “What they told me beyond this season and as recently as today and yesterday is how long Doug stays here is Doug’s decision.” Langel denied rumblings that the story, which cited multiple unnamed NBA sources, in Thursday’s Philadelphia Inquirer originated from Collins’ camp. phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

Following a published report saying the organization privately hopes Doug Collins doesn’t return next season as coach, his agent claims it is Collins’ call. “The relationship with Doug, me and Sixers management has been terrific,” said John Langel during a Thursday afternoon telephone conversation. “What they told me beyond this season and as recently as today and yesterday is how long Doug stays here is Doug’s decision.” phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

Langel denied rumblings that the story, which cited unnamed NBA sources, in Thursday’s Philadelphia Inquirer originated from the Collins’ camp. In October, Sixers majority owner Josh Harris announced the team had picked up a fourth-year option (the 2013-14 season) on Collins’ contract. It is believed to be worth $4.5 million. phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

According to multiple league sources, the 76ers organization privately hopes that coach Doug Collins decides not to return for the 2013-14 season and, regardless of his decision, it does not intend to extend his contract - which has one year remaining. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, there is an emerging power struggle between coach Doug Collins and ownership. Collins, who has one year left on his contract, might have to coach next season as a lame duck, without a contract extension. Sources have indicated that ownership may be trying to force Collins to resign, although he is due to make $4.5 million next season. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

"I think he's gone at the end of the year. He'll be moving on," said one NBA source with intimate knowledge of the situation. "He'll decide to leave, and they won't be upset about it. They would like to see it work out that he decides to move on." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

Collins, who will be 62 this summer, will be the one making the decision. Management is not eager to get into a public-relations war with a popular former player and charismatic local hero. The two sides would have to come to an agreement to settle the contract, but if that is the price of a peaceful parting, the organization might consider it a bargain. "Whatever happens, there isn't going to be a contract extension," a second NBA source said. "They're looking to turn the page." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

The organization will have a huge season-ticket renewal problem this offseason, and the last thing it needs is engaging in a popularity contest with Collins. Selling tickets for next season will be difficult enough. "They really want to avoid a backlash if the fans sided with Doug," the first NBA source said. "They will be happy if Doug makes the call and it works out that he leaves." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

It will be an interesting game of cat-and-mouse when this season ends. Collins is unlikely to quit and leave $4.5 million on the table, but he is just as unlikely to agree to coach the lame-duck year of his contract. "I'm entirely focused on trying to win the games we have left," Collins said Wednesday night before the Sixers played Atlanta at the Wells Fargo Center. "I'm not thinking at all about next season. I haven't gone there." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Doug Collins 

The distinct sense I get in Philly is that the decision whether Doug Collins, at 61, decides to continue coaching the Sixers after projected franchise cornerstone Andrew Bynum played zero minutes this season will be left fully up to Collins. He suggested as much recently while Adam Aron, Philly's CEO, told a town-hall style gathering of Sixers fans in late March that "Doug Collins is under absolutely zero pressure from ownership." ESPN.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Coaching, Doug Collins, Adam Aron 

Any worries that Doug Collins won't be back? Rod Thorn: "Oh, we certainly hope that he will. Doug is one of the top coaches in the league and has done a terrific job here over the course of his almost three years now, and I think everybody is hoping that he will be back. That decision ultimately will be up to him." Delaware County Daily Times

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Rod Thorn, Doug Collins 

Does that mean you are not sure yet? Rod Thorn: "He's under contract and everybody assumes that's what is going to happen. I didn't mean to infer anything. We certainly hope that he will be back, and we certainly expect him to." Delaware County Daily Times

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Rod Thorn, Doug Collins 

Did the Sixers view Bynum’s situation as a distraction? “I never considered Andrew a distraction at all,” Sixers coach Doug Collins said. “I never felt that in any way. I tried to be very supportive of what he was going through.” Collins acknowledged, however, that he would have preferred it if Bynum had addressed the media in the room where the coach delivers his postgame news conferences, rather than having media staked out in from of Bynum’s locker before games, around the guys who were getting ready to play. “From his standpoint, there was nothing that he could do,” Collins said. “It was a situation he was put in.” Delaware News Journal

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Doug Collins