If the 76ers don’t re-sign Spencer Hawes to play center (he’s a restricted free agent), they will likely go young with 24-year old Marresse Speights and 21-year old rookie Nikola Vucevic.  Speights played in 64 games (1 start) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 11.5 minutes, 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 205 games (4 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 14.7 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Speights needs to get in better shape before the Sixers trust him enough to give him big minutes.  Nikola Vucevic was the 76ers’ first round pick last June out of USC.  He has game, so he might be a starter in the very near future for the Sixers.

32-year old power forward Elton Brand still has a lot left in the gas tank.  He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game.  Brand has now played in 800 games (770 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.9 minutes, 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.9 blocked shots per game.  The 76ers need another big year out of Brand in 2011-12.  24-year old Craig Brackins might get a shot to backup Brand in 2011-12.  He played in only 3 games for the 76ers last year and he averaged 11.0 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  22-year old rookie 2nd round pick Lavoy Allen will likely get a lot of D-League time in 2011-12.

Last season, 27-year old small forward Andre Iguodala gutted it out as he was playing hurt.  He should be close to 100% when the 2011-12 season begins.  Iguodala played in 67 games (all starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 36.9 minutes, 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  He has now played in 553 games (all starts) for the Sixers in his career and he is averaging 38.0 minutes, 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.  Iguodala plays hard on both ends of the court and I expect him to have a big year for the Sixers if he can stay healthy in 2011-12.  31-year old small forward Andres Nocioni plays all out on the basketball court and he will back up Iguodala again.  Nocioni played in 54 games (17 starts) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 17.2 minutes, 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  He has now played in 503 games (202 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.8 minutes, 10.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

24-year old Jodie Meeks took over as the starting shooting guard early last year and he didn’t give the job back.  He played in 74 games (64 starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 10.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  Meeks has now played in 134 games (64 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 20.8 minutes, 7.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  He is a very streaky shooter, but Meeks doesn’t add much to the team except scoring points.  23-year old Evan Turner struggled in his rookie season for the Sixers last year.  He played in 78 games (14 starts) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 23.0 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.  The Sixers hope that Turner earns more P.T. in 2011-12.

21-year old point guard Jrue Holiday really stepped up in his second season in the NBA and the Sixers hope that trend continues.  He played in 82 games (all starts) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 35.4 minutes, 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  Holiday has now played in 155 games (133 starts) in his first two years with the 76ers and he has averaged 30.1 minutes, 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  He has a very, very bright future in the NBA.  24-year old Lou Williams will backup Holiday and he is instant offense off the bench.  Williams played in 75 games (0 starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 23.3 minutes, 13.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 391 games (38 starts) in his first six years with the Sixers and he is averaging 21.2 minutes, 10.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.  Williams will also get minutes at shooting guard, because he’s too good of a player to nail to the bench.

Last season was a disaster for the 76ers under Eddie Jordan as they were 27-55. 59-year old Doug Collins has signed on to come back to coaching which is a job he hasn’t had since 2002-03 with the Washington Wizards. Collins has a career record during the regular season of 332-287 (53.6%). He also has a 15-23 record (39.5%) during the post season. When looking at his records you have to consider that a lot of that time he had Michael Jordan on his team which makes his numbers less than impressive.

22-year old Spencer Hawes is going to be the starting center for the Sixers. He played in 72 games (59 starts) for the Kings last season and he averaged 26.4 minutes, 10.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Hawes has now played in 220 games (118 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he has averaged 23.2 minutes, 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Hawes needs to get tougher around the basket on both ends of the court but he is a good shooter which could help draw the opposing center away from the basket opening the key for other players on the team.

23-year old Marreese Speights is the wild card for the Sixers this year. If he comes in focused and motivated (which has been a problem in the past) then he could be a big surprise in a positive way for the 76ers. Speights played in 62 games (1 start) for the Sixers last season and he averaged 16.4 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 141 games (3 starts) in his first two years with the Sixers and he has averaged 16.2 minutes, 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

34-year old Tony Battie will likely backup at both power forward and center this season for the Sixers. Battie played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 8.9 minutes, 2.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 772 games (418 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 22.0 minutes, 6.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 76ERS CENTERS IN 2010-11: C

31-year old Elton Brand got into Eddie Jordan’s Dog House last season and Jordan even had him playing out of position at center a good portion of last year. Doug Collins isn’t going to have any of that as Brand is returning to his best position this year…..power forward. Brand played in 76 games (57 starts) for the 76ers last season and he averaged 30.2 minutes, 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Brand has now played in 719 games (689 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 37.2 minutes, 19.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game.

32-year old Darius Songaila was acquired in a deal with the Hornets and he is a solid backup power forward. Songaila played in 75 games (1 start) for the Hornets last season and he averaged 18.8 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He has now played in 485 games (79 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.9 minutes, 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

23-year old rookie first round pick Craig Brackins also came over in the deal with the Hornets. Brackins played in 31 games at Iowa State last season and he averaged 35.1 minutes, 16.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He played in 95 games in his three years in college and he averaged 31.8 minutes, 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SIXERS POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B

22-year old Thaddeus Young is a solid player but the Sixers want more out of him in 2010-11. Young played in 67 games (45 starts) for the 76ers last season and he averaged 32.0 minutes, 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. In his first three years with the 76ers, Young has played in 216 games (138 starts) in which he has averaged 29.1 minutes, 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Doug Collins isn’t the kind of guy to stick with a player just because he’s young so Young better step up this year if he wants to keep his starting job.

30-year old Andres Nocioni was brought in from the Kings in the deal for Samuel Dalembert and he’s a solid backup player. Nocioni played in 75 games (28 starts) for the Kings last season and he averaged 19.7 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He has now played in 449 games (185 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 24.6 minutes, 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Nocioni is also a good outside shooter as he has hit 37.5% of his three point attempts in his NBA career. Don’t be surprised to see Nocioni getting more minutes than anyone expected him to in 2010-11.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 76ERS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: C+

No not that A.I.! 26-year old Andre Iguodala will likely slide over from small forward to start at shooting guard for the Sixers in 2010-11. Iguodala played in 82 games (all starts) for the Sixers last season and he averaged 38.9 minutes, 17.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He has now played in 486 games (all starts) in his career with the Sixers and he has averaged 38.1 minutes, 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Iguodala will likely be the best player on the Sixers once again this year.

22-year old rookie Evan Turner will likely get time at both guard spots for the Sixers this year. A awful Summer League tarnished what the Sixers have thought about him so he will have a lot to prove. Turner played in 31 games for the Ohio State Buckeyes last season and he averaged 35.7 minutes, 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He played in 101 games in his three years at Ohio State and he averaged 32.8 minutes, 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 50.2% shooting from the floor.

29-year old Jason Kapono is a marksman from long range and it’s his best skill. Kapono played in 57 games (12 starts) for the Sixers last season and he averaged 17.1 minutes, 5.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has now played in 458 games (85 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 19.0 minutes, 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Kapono has shot an amazing 44% in his career from three point range so he will likely be the long range assassin for the Sixers late in ballgames.

23-year old Jodie Meeks showed some life after coming over in a deal with the Bucks last year. He played in 60 games (0 starts) as a rookie for the Sixers & Bucks last year and he averaged 12.0 minutes, 4.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Meeks only shot 38.8% from the floor and 31.8% from the three point line last year and that just won’t get it done. Until he improves his shooting, I just don’t see Meeks getting much P.T.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 76ERS SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: B+