Summertime Sixers

By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine

The Sixers fielded one heckuva summer league team this year.

Unfortunately when training camp opens at Duke on October 2, the Sixers will still be sporting a team better suited for summer league ball.

After signing rookie second-round picks Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill to non-guaranteed contracts on Tuesday, a day after trading for power forward Reggie Evans and signing veteran journeyman Calvin Booth, Sixers president Billy King proclaimed his work done.

"At this point in time, I don't expect to do anything else," King said after yet another wasted offseason.

The Sixers will arrive in Durham with four roles set. Point guard Andre Miller, rising star Andre Iguodala and center Samuel Dalembert, who is coming off a minor stress fracture, are all guaranteed starters, while Kyle Korver will return as the sharp-shooting sixth man.

Evans, a terrific rebounder best suited for 15-20 minutes a game, will be penciled in as the starting power forward with summer league star Louis Amundson, Shavlik Randolph and rookie Jason Smith trying to push him.

"We are excited to add Reggie Evans our roster," King said after the trade. "He is an accomplished rebounder that we feel will make an immediate impact and will exemplify our commitment to hard work, rebounding and defense."

Rodney Carney, who spent his summer vacation on the trading block, is best suited for the other starting role but the one-dimensional Willie Green and the not ready for prime time Thaddeus Young are also on hand.

"The greatest thing is that we're going to go to camp and let people compete and earn their spots," King added.

Meanwhile, Louis Williams should finally get the opportunity to back up Miller on a full time basis at the point and the Sixers should find a roster spot for Byars, a solid developmental swingman that should have been a first round pick.