Dikembe Mutombo said he was asking his kids the other day the same question others have been asking about the 76ers' search for a coaching successor to Larry Brown: Why not Randy Ayers?

Why not the guy who has spent the last six seasons on the Sixers' staff, and in recent seasons was the No. 1 assistant?

Ayers, who initially said he expected to remain an assistant to Brown (now the coach of the Detroit Pistons), was interviewed by Sixers president Billy King last Thursday in Chicago, a day after Sixers assistant Mike Woodson.

Ayers, according to sources, expects to have a second discussion with King this week. Woodson, who has been on the Sixers' staff for two seasons, also is expected to have another meeting with King.

Woodson interviewed with the Toronto Raptors about their vacancy last Thursday and was expected to visit Toronto this week, but those plans were canceled by the Raptors. Sources told the Daily News that Woodson is no longer a candidate.