Philadelphia 76ers: What Would Hiring Tom Penn Mean?

According to a report from Ken Berger of CBSSports, former Portland Trailblazers executive and current ESPN television personality Tom Penn is firmly in the running for the Philadelphia 76ers general manager position.

According to Berger, Penn is regarded as one of the NBA's foremost authorities on the salary cap and financial dealings:

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One of the league's top experts on the salary cap and intricacies of the collective bargaining agreement, Penn would be a strong hire for the Sixers as they navigate the new labor deal and how it has dramatically affected payroll and planning strategies.

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Should the Sixers hire Penn, they would be making a very wise choice that could help bolster their front office, one that has not shied away from making aggressive, and financially questionable, moves in the past.

For a franchise that has shelled out big bucks to players like Elton Brand (five years, $80 million), Andre Iguodala (six years, $80 million) and Thaddeus Young (five years, $42 million), it's clear that the Sixers are in need of some more pragmatic financial consultation.

While Rod Thorn and the rest of Philadelphia's front office have done a good job this offseason by slapping Elton Brand with the amnesty clause and making a few low-risk, high-reward signings, this team is in desperate need of facelift in the front office.

According to Hoopsworld, the only players that the Sixers have hefty sums of money invested in for the 2013-2014 season are Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young. 

Should Penn be the eventual hire, he will have some tough decisions to make next offseason. Assuming Iguodala makes it through this season without being dealt, there's always the chance that next summer will finally be the time we see him shipped out.

Both Nick Young and Dorell Wright will be free agents after this season, clearing nearly $10 million in cap space. Could this money help go towards paying one of next summer's coveted superstar free agents? Fans can only hope that's the case.

However, the biggest decision that's looming seems to be Jrue Holiday's request for a maximum contract extension. Holiday will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2013-2014, and the front office will have some serious work to do. Holiday certainly looks like the team's point guard of the future, but should his requests become too outrageous, things could always change.

With considerable money coming off of the books and some financial flexibility coming in the summer of 2013, Tom Penn looks like he could be the right man for the job in Philadelphia.