The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Randy Ayers will be promoted from assistant to head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers to replace Larry Brown, The Associated Press has learned.

Two team sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 76ers had picked the former Ohio State coach and would introduce him at a news conference Friday. The Sixers scheduled a news conference but didn't provide details.

Ayers spent the last six seasons as an assistant to Brown and was the Buckeyes' coach the previous eight years, going 124-108. Brown resigned last month and is now the Detroit Pistons' coach.

Ayers wasn't Philadelphia's first choice, but president Billy King couldn't get permission to speak to Portland coach Maurice Cheeks, a former Sixers star. Also, former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy and Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said they weren't interested in the job after speaking to King. Van Gundy took over in Houston, replacing Rudy Tomjanovich.

King also interviewed Eddie Jordan, who was hired by Washington on Thursday, former Atlanta coach Mike Fratello, Sixers assistant Mike Woodson and Miami Heat assistant Bob McAdoo.

Ayers led Ohio State to four postseason appearances and was the AP Coach of the Year in 1991 after the Buckeyes went 27-4 and won the first of consecutive Big Ten championships. Ayers also played four seasons at Miami University.

WIZARDS: Washington, which has not won a playoff game in 15 years, hired a coach Thursday from a team that has reached the NBA Finals two years in a row.

Eddie Jordan, an assistant with the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets, becomes the Wizards' seventh coach in six seasons. Unlike Michael Jordan, who was dismissed last month by team owner Abe Pollin in a much-criticized move, Eddie Jordan has ties to the capital. The Washington native played basketball for Archbishop Carroll High School in town.

The 48-year-old Jordan replaces Doug Collins, who was hand-picked by Michael Jordan and fired last month after consecutive 37-45 seasons. The Wizards' last victory in a playoff game was in 1988.

MAGIC: Orlando has contacted the NBA seeking the medical salary-cap exception for Grant Hill, meaning the injured former All-Star might not play next season. Hill has been hobbled by a bad left ankle since he broke it during the 2000 playoffs while he was with the Detroit Pistons.

He has had numerous operations on the ankle and has played in only 47 games for Orlando since signing a $93 million, seven-year contract in August 2000.

76ERS: Center Samuel Dalembert underwent surgery on his left knee Thursday. He is expected to return to the court in four-to-six weeks.