The list of names in the Sixers’ search for a new front office leader has grown in recent days.  In addition to Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey and Phoenix Mercury GM Nick U’Ren, The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported Tuesday that Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd was a candidate “likely to meet” with Bob Myers. Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, is leading the Sixers’ search. The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported Thursday that Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson is “Philadelphia’s strongest internal candidate” and “a favorite to receive a promotion” even if he does not receive the president of basketball operations job once held by Daryl Morey. Jones also reported the following:  Clippers general manager Trent Redden has “emerged as a candidate.” Lloyd is “expected to interview” and “has the backing of a few key members of the Sixers’ organization.”  The Hawks denied Myers’ request to interview Atlanta GM Onsi Saleh last week.  Nelson starred at Chester High School and St. Joseph’s before his 14-year NBA career. Sixers GM Elton Brand hired him in 2020 as a scout and an assistant general manager for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats.  He became the Blue Coats’ GM at the start of the 2023-24 season and stepped up to his current role with the Sixers last May. Nelson honed his sense for how to find and develop young talent in the G League. “Obviously you try to use data,” he told NBC Sports Philadelphia in an April 2024 phone interview. “I’m not a huge analytics guy, but you have to use them to help back up some things that you see. And you can make the best decision in terms of the upside and all that stuff when it comes to young guys.  “But it’s also when you see a guy, you have to know who this guy is as a person. At the beginning of it, they’re people. … In the G League, we’ve been successful with just saying, ‘This is how we see you becoming successful.’ Some guys fight it, some guys don’t, but we have a good track record of identifying talent and also putting them in positions to be successful for themselves and for the team. … So it’s identifying what a guy has and how we can help them get better at their skills and some of their weaknesses.” Lloyd was widely reported to have been a finalist for the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations job that ultimately went to Bryson Graham. At the moment, Lloyd is the No. 2 in Minnesota’s front office under president of basketball operations Tim Connelly.  “He’s one of the most well-respected guys in our profession,” Connelly told The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski in 2024. “He’s got the acumen and the work ethic and he’s got a wonderful emotional IQ. Someone really smart is going to hire him as their president.” Redden has worked in the Cavs’ and Clippers’ front offices. He’s been general manager under president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank since 2023.  “A lot of executives have backgrounds in strategy or evaluation. Trent brings expertise and agility in both,” Frank said in the Clippers’ press release on Redden’s promotion to GM. “Since he joined us, Trent has scoured the globe in search of amateur and pro talent while serving as an integral advisor on every major decision and acquisition we’ve made.” Frank called Redden “a respected leader with strong relationships throughout the league.”  ...read more read less