The game, which featured Barkley fumbling over which team employed the likes of Brian Cardinal and Royal Ivey, revealed that for all of Barkley's on-court skills and basketball IQ, his familiarity with the lesser members of the league's rosters is far less refined.
The hole in Barkley's knowledge base may be humorous for a TV analyst, but it is just that type of knowledge that is crucial to the success of an NBA executive. If Barkley's interest in the Philadelphia 76ers' general manager job is sincere, the team would have to be sensitive to the former star's desires while keeping in mind that playing ability and organizational acumen are separate qualities.
From a public relations standpoint, few moves are as easy a home run as having Barkley interview for the position, which is to be vacated with the retirement of team president and GM Rod Thorn. The Hall of Fame forward brings spice to a lineup of candidates that may not mean much to the casual fan, with Danny Ferry, Dennis Lindsey, Jeff Bower and John Hammond among the names floated in connection with the job.
The Sixers have been savvy with their personnel decisions since the current ownership group headed by Joshua Harris took control in 2011. They retained Thorn and coach Doug Collins while resisting public calls to trade All-Star forward Andre Iguodala, decisions that led them to push the Boston Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this season. Expect them to be just as careful with the upcoming general manager move.
Interviewing Barkley could be beneficial to both parties. For Barkley, who has no front office experience, an interview would give him exposure to the NBA hiring process in what presumably would be a non-confrontational environment, given his history as a six-time All-Star with the organization. For the Sixers, it would generate media exposure to their search (such as this article, for instance) among those who otherwise might not even be aware of the changes under way in the franchise.
Hiring Barkley would be more dicey, although not entirely out of the question, for the Sixers. The franchise has thrived under the professional stewardship of Thorn in the past two years, and Barkley does not fit the stereotype of a reticent head executive. The Sixers have a number of big decisions coming up, from what to do about the final year of Elton Brand's large contract, how to handle the growth of the backcourt pairing of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, and whether to revisit the trade market for Iguodala. A strong grasp on the Brian Cardinals and Royal Iveys is vital for the person making the calls on such moves.
Barkley specializes in attracting headlines, yet if the Sixers hire a general manager who is capable and experienced but less well-known, they should continue to attract plenty of attention for the best reason possible: Winning.
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