Details behind the dismissal of Doc Rivers have begun to emerge. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer described James Harden as being the ‘‘driving force’’ behind Rivers getting fired in his latest report:
Sixers president Daryl Morey shouldered responsibility for the decision to remove Rivers during a news conference Wednesday. Several members of Rivers’ staff, sources said, have pointed to All-Star point guard James Harden — whom league personnel are expecting to decline his player option in search of a long-term contract — as a driving force behind Rivers’ departure.
This echo's ESPN’s Ramona Shelborne’s report, that the decisions behind Rivers’ future and Harden’s possible return were/are intertwined.