Report: D’Antoni Pushed for Ish Smith Trade

It's more clearer by the day what is happening with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Just days after the hiring of longtime NBA coach Mike D'Antoni as an associate head coach to Brett Brown, the 76ers made a trade.

The Sixers traded two futire second round picks to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for point guard Ish Smith.

According to a report, it was D'Antoni who pushed the organization to make the trade.

Here's more from John Reid of The Times Picayune:

Sources say newly hired Philadelphia 76ers lead assistant Mike D'Antoni is impressed with Smith's abilities and wanted to get him on their roster. Also, sources say the Pelicans weren't going to be able to extend adequate minutes to Smith in the rotation with Norris Cole back after missing the first 17 games of the season with a high ankle sprain.

Smith, 27, was with the 76ers last season, but parted ways with the team before signing on with Washington and later signed with the Pelicans on the day before the start of the regular season.

It's now evident that the 76ers are being led by a combination of new chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colaneglo and his ally D'Antoni.

A trade for Smith is outside the norm of Hinkie who has a track record of coveting and compiling assets such as future second round draft selections. Smith is also a free agent at the end of the season so the 76ers could have acquired him for nothing, or Smith can choose to sign on with another team.

The 2-30 Sixers have a clear weakness at point guard with TJ McConnell and Kendall Marshall not making an impact and connection with their front court. PF Nerlens Noel is said to have a strong relationship with Smith having developed it last year in Philadelphia.

The two second round picks traded for Smith are Denver's 2016 and the Sixers' 2017.

The team also released Tony Wroten.