The 76ers have signed 35-year old center Francisco Elson to a 1-year deal.  Elson played in 62 games (1 start) for the Utah Jazz last year and he averaged 9.8 minutes, 2.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 467 games (149 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 15.4 minutes, 3.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  The Sixers signed Elson to provide depth at center with Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic both hurting right now.

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 Sixers have re-signed 35-year old center Tony Battie to a 1-year deal.  Battie played in 38 games (0 starts) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 9.9 minutes, 2.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 810 games (418 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 21.4 minutes, 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He will be #3 in line at center for minutes in 2011-12.

The Philadelphia 76ers have re-signed 23-year old center Spencer Hawes to a 1-year deal.  Hawes played in 81 games (all starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 21.2 minutes, 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 301 games (199 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 22.6 minutes, 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  This was a good move for the Sixers as Hawes is a solid rotational player at center.

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

The Philadelphia 76ers look in good shape right now.  They are two deep almost everywhere, but they still need a legit center.  They drafted Nikola Vucevic in the first round, but they aren’t going to likely throw him into the fire right away.  I think the Sixers are going to bring back Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes, who are both restricted free agents and that might be the extent of their moves when the lockout is over.

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 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.