Almost one year ago, Tony DiLeo left a conversation with 76ers principal owner Joshua Harris in which DiLeo, who has coached the team, headed up the scouting department and had been team president and general manager Rod Thorn’s right-hand man in a 22-year career with the team, made it known that being the team’s general manager was his ultimate goal.

On Friday, the Sixers granted DiLeo’s wish, promoting him from executive vice president of basketball operations to general manager.

DiLeo, who was a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers job that ultimately went to Neil Olshey, appeared to be a bit of a long shot in recent weeks. However, in early September he presented the ownership group with a detailed plan for the organization. A few weeks later and now he is steering the Sixers.

DiLeo did get a hint from Harris that the Sixers were very interested in him. After meeting with Portland, Harris and DiLeo agreed that he would not speak with any more teams that were interested in his services.

“It worked out well in the end,” DiLeo said. “This is where I wanted to be all along.

via John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer