The 76ers have sent 24-year old power forward Marreese Speights to the Grizzlies as part of a three team deal also involving the Hornets.  Speights played in 64 games (1 start) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 11.5 minutes, 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He played in 205 games (4 starts) in his three years with the Sixers and he averaged 14.7 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  As part of this deal, the Grizzlies sent 20-year old shooting guard Xavier Henry to the Hornets.  The 76ers received a second round pick in 2012 (from the Grizzlies) and a second round pick in 2013 (from the Hornets).  That doesn’t seem like a lot for Speights, but he was buried on the bench for the Sixers.

The 76ers have re-signed 23-year old forward Thaddeus Young to a 5-year, $43 million dollar deal.  Young played in 82 games (1 start) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 26.0 minutes, 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 298 games (139 starts) in his first four years with the Sixers and he is averaging 28.2 minutes, 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  The 76ers are glad to have Young locked up for the future as he is a big part of the core of the team

33-year old forward Darius Songaila has left the 76ers to sign a 1-year, $1.5 million dollar deal to play professional ball overseas.  Songaila played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 7.1 minutes, 1.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.2 assists per game.  He has now played in 495 games (79 starts) in his first 10 years in the NBA and he has averaged 18.6 minutes, 6.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  The 76ers shouldn’t miss Songaila too much if at all, down the road.

The Philadelphia 76ers used the 50th overall pick on 22-year old, 6’9″, 225 pound power forward Lavoy Allen out of Temple.  Allen played in 33 games for Temple last year and he averaged 33.9 minutes, 11.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game.  Allen played in 135 games in his four years in college and he averaged 32.2 minutes, 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  The Sixers didn’t have to look too far for Allen as he has been playing right here in Philly the last four years.

The 76ers picked 20-year old center Nikola Vucevic with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft last night.  Vucevic is a legit center at 6’10″, 260 pounds and that’s just what the Sixers need.  Vucevic played in 34 games at USC last year and he averaged 34.9 minutes, 17.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.  He played in 87 games in his three years in college and he averaged 27.7 minutes, 11.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  This was a great pick for the Sixers.

The Philadelphia 76ers have six free agents heading into this summer but they probably are only interested in bringing two of them back.  Forward Thaddeus Young is a restricted free agent and the 76ers are going to have to pay up big time to keep him.  He’s going to get a good offer from a team that will want him to start for them.  Center Spencer Hawes is no the prototype center, but the Sixers can do worse than bringing him back.  They probably are interested in bringing him back but only at the right price.  I can see the 76ers letting backup players Antonio Daniels (PG), Tony Battie (C), Jason Kapono (SG/SF) and Darius Songaila (PF) walk away.

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed point guard Antonio Daniels.  Daniels played in 38 games (37 starts) for the Texas Legends of the NBDL this year and he averaged 38.3 minutes, 14.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  He was also shooting a very nice 42.5% from three point range for the Legends.  Daniels last played in the NBA back in 2008-09 with the Wizards & Hornets.  He has played in 867 games (220 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 22.6 minutes, 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.  The Sixers might need Daniels to play a few minutes for them the rest of the regular season to rest some regulars.

26-year old starting small forward Andre Iguodala has been ruled out of the next five games to rest his right Achilles (tendinitis).  Iguodala has played in 25 games (all starts) for the 76ers so far this year and he is averaging 37.6 minutes, 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  31-year old Andres Nocioni will be replacing Iguodala in the starting lineup.  Nocioni has played in 28 games (11 starts) for the Sixers so far this year and he is averaging 19.4 minutes, 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Nocioni’s last start went pretty well against the Suns as he scored 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and he dished out 2 assists in 41 minutes on the court.  I have a feeling that Nocioni will do a good job for the Sixers as long as A.I. is out of action.

The Sixers will be without 26-year old starting shooting guard Andre Iguodala a while due to a Achilles injury. Iguodala has played in 8 games (all starts) for the Sixers so far this year and he is averaging 33.6 minutes, 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He has been replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Evan Turner who has been doing a decent job. But, they still miss Iguodala who is the best player on the team right now.

The 76ers have signed 27-year old point guard Chris Quinn. Quinn played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 8.9 minutes, 2.2 points, 0.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He has now played in 193 games (26 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.2 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Quinn has shot 39% from three point range in his career and that is what likely caught the Sixers’ eye. But, I still don’t see him being any better than the #3 point guard for the Sixers this year.

UPDATE: (10/21/2010) – The Sixers have released Chris Quinn.