When Mike Woodson stepped onto the 76ers' practice floor yesterday morning to help with the workouts for three prospective second-round draft choices, he already knew he would not be the next head coach.

"Part of the job," Woodson said last night as the Sixers prepared the details of this afternoon's news conference to introduce Randy Ayers as the successor to Larry Brown. "I'm hanging in. I wish Randy and everybody with the Sixers the best. I can't be mad at [president] Billy King or [chairman] Ed Snider. They gave me my chance. They're first class."

Ayers, a Sixers assistant for six seasons, got the job. Woodson, an assistant here for two seasons, said he will decide by today whether to accept an offer to be part of Ayers' staff or join Brown's staff with the Detroit Pistons.