Sixers bring back Spencer Hawes
According to a source the Sixers and Spencer Hawes have agreed to a two-year deal worth more than $13 million.
Sixers bring back Spencer Hawes
Bob Cooney
The 76ers said after their past season was over that they were looking to get bigger and more athletic in the middle, whether it be via draft, trade or free agency. They may have addressed that area a little bit when they got 6-11 Arnett Moultrie in the draft last week, but yesterday they decided to go back to a comfort zone.
According to sources the team has agreed to a two year contract with last season’s starting center, Spencer Hawes. According to the source the agreement is for two years worth slightly more than $13 million. Hawes, an unrestricted free agent, earned just more than $4 million last season.
Though he missed 29 games due to injuries last season, Hawes averaged 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 25 minutes per game. He also shot 48.9 percent from the floor and dealt 2.7 assists.
With the signing of Hawes, which can’t be finalized until July 11, the Sixers now have three centers in their rotation with Hawes, Moultrie and second-year 7-footer Nikola Vucevic.
With the money spent on Hawes the Sixers other priority is to bring back leading scorer Lou Williams. Williams opted out of the final year of his contract and sources throughout the league said that he will garner a contract somewhere in the same vicinity as Hawes, perhaps a little bit more. Should the Sixers do that, their options after that would be limited, unless they decide to amnesty Elton Brand and cut his $18.2 million from their salary cap.
The team is better with Hawes than without Hawes and this contract didn't break the bank either. For those fans wanting to see the Sixers make a "bold" move, I am curious what they have in mind. Trade for Dwight Howard and keep him for one year? Or what? I think Courtney Lee is a nice player, but hardly the kind of signing that would make much of an impact.
I like the earlier comment about trying to DEVELOP your existing talent. We need those guys to improve. Jrue needs to develop into a top five point guard. Turner and Young are capable of stepping up their games big time as well.— DeanoP44- Hoopshype rumor: sixers may be invloved in an Igggy + Vuc deal with Toronto for DeRozen + Calderdon. I like it.— edogs
- And Rod denied it just as quick...DeRozan is super athletic, but more as a slam dunk contest guy, rather than applying it as a great defender...his ballhandling and shooting have not developed, but still is worth considering as he's in his last year of his 4year rookie deal....Calderon has to go somewhere, with Kyle Lowry now a Raptor...The Rumor was for him to join fellow Spaniard Pau Gasol, but with Nash there, that's blown up...He also is an expiring contract (10.5 mil)...a consummate "pass first" guy who takes care of the ball at an elite level (4.4 to 1 assist to turnover)...Defensive liability...I'd do it myself, worst case scenerio, the Sixers have 30 million freed up for 2013...Best case, Jrue gets to see true PG play, and the coaching staff gets to mold yet another athletic wing. — bearsfriend
- I thought Moultree was the PF that would eventually replace Brand. would like to have two athletic big men as starters.— BigT
- Trying to think of something to say about this decision that doesn't include a tirade of anger-filled expletives. Nope, couldn't do it.— Melvin Finkelstein
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
