Sixers’ Rivers, Johnson, Powell join protocol
The Philadelphia 76ers will wrap up their 2021 fixtures on Thursday night against the Brooklyn Nets, and they won’t have much agency, including their head coach, due to COVID-19.
Wojnarowski notes Rivers joins a long list of head coaches currently on league protocols, including Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls, Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers, Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mark Daigneault of Oklahoma City Thunder and Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns.
Powell was rendered useless in 2020 and signed with the New York Knicks last November. He played 13 games with the organization’s G League affiliate – the Westchester Knicks – last year and was signed and given up several times before finally being dropped by the Knicks on October 14, 2021.
The 24-year-old signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia on December 19 and plays in first two NBA games, a total of three points and one recovery in 12 minutes of action.
The Sixers are Johnson’s fourth NBA team since his debut in January 2015. The 29-year-old signed a 10-day contract with the club on December 22 and has play in three competitions, a total of 11 points, six rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes of play.