Sixers sign free-agent center Battie
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Sixers sign free-agent center Battie
The Sixers have signed free-agent center Tony Battie, president and general manager Ed Stefanski announced today.
“We see Tony Battie as a player who can come in and give us additional depth in the front court while also providing a valuable veteran presence for our younger players both on and off the court,” Stefanski said.
Battie (6-11, 240) recently completed his 12th NBA season and has averaged 6.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 772 career games with 418 starts. He has also appeared in 51 playoff games with 30 starts and was a member of the Orlando Magic’s Eastern Conference title team in 2008-09.
"I feel I can bring a veteran presence and leadership," Battie said on a conference call this afternoon. "We have a young core, especially with the bigs; with Marreese [Speights], [Jason] Smith and with me eing a vet. And then we have Spencer Hawes.
"I'm looking forward to bringing what I can and showing my tricks of the trade. I've never been a guy to fill the stat sheet. I'm a team guy. I like to be a defensive presence a hard-nosed rebounder, a guy who loves to do the dirty work."
Battie was the fifth overall pick by Denver in 1997.
The sarcasm on these comment boards is getting SO OLD. Can't any of you put a little original thought into your words? So predictable... This is a bench signing. Nothing more. Under the circumstances, what else do you expect them to do? The Brand contract was a mistake. We get it. Get over it and move on with your lives. Your snarky remarks are lazy and boring.— BTC526- I have no problem bringing in a tough veteran big to go with a young bunch up front but I think they need to sign or trade for one of the young summer league guys who can jump out of the gym and block shots on a regular basis and has some upside because this is obviously a short term deal which hopefully will help our bigs grow.— golfer15
Yes CraigMack young people are morons. So are old fat bald General Manager that think they invented the game. Add players that can play before you add chemistry guys to stabilize the team. Now thats some flava for ya ear..... @Cbent you didn't go there with Ron Mercer LOL.... STIFFanski deserves all the sarcasm this city can dish out. He is the one that put us in this situation. I love how people come out of nowhere and bring up Billy King. Billy King cleared all that cap room. STIFFanski came in came in spending money like he had no one to answer to. If you know you're going to see comments you don't like then why the phawk do you come here.- Wow! Buy those playoff tickets now.— Mike Kotyk
- Spare me with Billy King clearing cap space. Nothing in his history shows he would have done anything more than blow it again on huge deals to mediocre players.— JonKap
- Great pick-up! Battie has always been one of those players who have killed the 6ers in the past! A veteran, who is a tough defender. Imagine Theo Ratliff with better offense. GREAT PICK-UP!!— I See
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.
