Stephen A. Smith: Larry Brown is the Next Sixers Head Coach

In his Philadelphia Inquirer column this morning, Stephen A. Smith says that Maurice Cheeks is done as the head coach of the Sixers after this season.

It's the unspoken expectation around the Wachovia Center these days, but an expectation reverberating around the Sixers nevertheless: The second this season is over, the second team chairman Ed Snider and his cronies finish scribbling notes from whatever public relations firm they retain, all of Cheeks' effort and dedication will be thrown to the wayside in favor of that familiar old coach who loves to preach about playing the right way.

That will occur even though some observers swear the old coach stops practicing such things the minute a few million dollars is waiting at his door.

Smith's only sources are those unspoken expectations reverberating around the Wachovia Center, and possibly common sense. I will never be surprised by anything Billy King or Larry Brown ever does when it comes to stupidity or money, respectively. So I don't doubt a word Smith says.

How do things change, though, if Philadelphia continues winning? Not in terms of Cheeks' job security, but in terms of Brown's interest? What if the Sixer don't get a top-3 or even top-5 pick? (It could happen.) Without an Oden or Durant or Noah or Wright (either one) or Horford, is this job enticing at all?
The philosophical question, assuming Smith's prophecy comes true: Is it right? Is Cheeks a bad coach? Has he underperformed with this team? Is Round 2 of Larryball the best thing for Philly's future?

Cheeks hasn't been a star, and he's had a couple seasons to work things out. He's gotten his troops to play hard if nothing else, and that's the bare minimum in the NBA. Still, even if Cheeks isn't the answer, to me -- Brown isn't either. We've seen this show, Brown with a bad GM. Was that fun for anyone, save Knickahaters?