http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/14949473.htm
76ers inquire about Ben Wallace
By Joe Juliano
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)
PHILADELPHIA - Two of the 76ers' biggest deficiencies last season were defense and rebounding, so president and general manager Billy King went after the guy who is one of the best in the NBA in both areas.
On the first day NBA teams could negotiate with free agents, King pulled a bit of a surprise on Saturday and contacted the agent for Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year.
King also called the representatives for the Sixers' three restricted free agents - John Salmons, Willie Green and Shavlik Randolph - as well as the agent for Washington Wizards swingman Jared Jeffries.
The 6-foot-9 Wallace, who will turn 32 in September, appeared ready to return to the Pistons before they were eliminated in the NBA playoffs. But during the season, he hired Arn Tellem, one of the most high-powered agents in the league, known for aggressively finding the best deals for his clients.
The Pistons are believed to be interested in signing Wallace for four years, with a salary starting at $11 million to $12 million. But another team may be interested in offering him a maximum deal of six years, with a salary beginning at $14 million or $15 million.
The Sixers, who are over the salary cap, can obtain Wallace only in a sign-and-trade with the Pistons. The Chicago Bulls, who have room under the salary cap, are also looking into signing Wallace.
Wallace averaged 11.3 rebounds (fifth in the NBA), 2.21 blocked shots and 1.8 steals last season.
King tendered qualifying offers to Salmons, Green and Randolph on Thursday, meaning the Sixers will have the right to match any offer the players receive from another team. Salmons, if signed, could be used as a piece in a trade, but the Sixers seem to want Green and Randolph back.
The versatile 6-11 Jeffries, who averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 77 games last season while earning a little less than $2.8 million, is a restricted free agent, meaning the Wizards can match any offer he receives.
Iverson speaks. Allen Iverson, appearing at a charity event held by former teammate Larry Hughes in St. Louis, sounded as if he expected to be traded.
"If you can make that team better, if you can give them a better opportunity of winning, then do what you've got to do," Iverson said in an interview broadcast Friday night on NBC10. "But my heart is always in Philadelphia. I'm a Sixer for life. I've just got to prepare my family and make sure that they know that anything can happen.
"My daughter all the time always talks about she never wants to leave Philly because she has so many friends there, and my son as well. But I just let them know that it's a business and this is how it goes down."
Trade rumors involving Iverson have been rampant, with the Boston Celtics appearing to have the inside track.
Locals to Houston. The Houston Chronicle reported that two members of the Rockets' summer-league team in Las Vegas will be Temple forward Antywane Robinson and former St. Joseph's wing Pat Carroll.
76ers inquire about Ben Wallace
By Joe Juliano
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)
PHILADELPHIA - Two of the 76ers' biggest deficiencies last season were defense and rebounding, so president and general manager Billy King went after the guy who is one of the best in the NBA in both areas.
On the first day NBA teams could negotiate with free agents, King pulled a bit of a surprise on Saturday and contacted the agent for Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year.
King also called the representatives for the Sixers' three restricted free agents - John Salmons, Willie Green and Shavlik Randolph - as well as the agent for Washington Wizards swingman Jared Jeffries.
The 6-foot-9 Wallace, who will turn 32 in September, appeared ready to return to the Pistons before they were eliminated in the NBA playoffs. But during the season, he hired Arn Tellem, one of the most high-powered agents in the league, known for aggressively finding the best deals for his clients.
The Pistons are believed to be interested in signing Wallace for four years, with a salary starting at $11 million to $12 million. But another team may be interested in offering him a maximum deal of six years, with a salary beginning at $14 million or $15 million.
The Sixers, who are over the salary cap, can obtain Wallace only in a sign-and-trade with the Pistons. The Chicago Bulls, who have room under the salary cap, are also looking into signing Wallace.
Wallace averaged 11.3 rebounds (fifth in the NBA), 2.21 blocked shots and 1.8 steals last season.
King tendered qualifying offers to Salmons, Green and Randolph on Thursday, meaning the Sixers will have the right to match any offer the players receive from another team. Salmons, if signed, could be used as a piece in a trade, but the Sixers seem to want Green and Randolph back.
The versatile 6-11 Jeffries, who averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 77 games last season while earning a little less than $2.8 million, is a restricted free agent, meaning the Wizards can match any offer he receives.
Iverson speaks. Allen Iverson, appearing at a charity event held by former teammate Larry Hughes in St. Louis, sounded as if he expected to be traded.
"If you can make that team better, if you can give them a better opportunity of winning, then do what you've got to do," Iverson said in an interview broadcast Friday night on NBC10. "But my heart is always in Philadelphia. I'm a Sixer for life. I've just got to prepare my family and make sure that they know that anything can happen.
"My daughter all the time always talks about she never wants to leave Philly because she has so many friends there, and my son as well. But I just let them know that it's a business and this is how it goes down."
Trade rumors involving Iverson have been rampant, with the Boston Celtics appearing to have the inside track.
Locals to Houston. The Houston Chronicle reported that two members of the Rockets' summer-league team in Las Vegas will be Temple forward Antywane Robinson and former St. Joseph's wing Pat Carroll.
