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.
see you at the parade next year— Repinphilly247- Battie isn't a stiff. I actually like the signing. So far, no complaints with the offseason--except we need to move Iggy for a top 4 draft pick.
- TONY BATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am ordering season tickets right now he is the final player we need.— cuso20
I do not want to be negative today. At least he's familiar with Howard, and Boston. He can hit a j. What are you going to do with the mle?— combocancer1975- Oh, I'm sorry. Does Philadelphia still have a professional basketball team? Hardly noticed . . . .— knebman
- This guy can not do anything for the sixers. This team will never learn. They will never make a serious threat for a championship under Stefanski.— smitty03281964
good signing. like the report says, Battie will add veteran leadership and on the court coaching to a young frontcourt (minus Brand). obviously he was brought in here to teach some of these young players, and he seems to embrace that. I don't think the 76ers are looking to him to play huge minutes, just have him be "a hard-nosed rebounder, a guy who loves to do the dirty work."— bboybeballin- Don't really know anything about him, but I'm sure y'all's comments will make him feel real welcome. This might be a better signing than what you think.— dlscholt
- Everyone can keep hating. This isn't an awful signing and please god don't compare him to Primoz. Easy. Sixers will be alright. Optimism. Yes, Ed Stefanski is not alright in my book. He rolled the dice on a guy with a calf that was 2 inches smaller than the other. Truth is he is trying to redeem himself and no, Tony Battie isn't the answer but they got some nice youth on the squad and a bright future. 3 years and they'll be ok. Until then, they will still be entertaining to watch— scheraty
- Finally - someone to fill Calvin Booth's shoes.
- Give me a break, no NBA teams have "bright futures" without multiple super stars. The Sixers have zero. Anyone that pays to watch this mess year after year is silly.— JonKap
- Champion chip— proclific
R U serious with this drivel??????? Who cares?- What were you all expecting? As much as everyone puts Ed down for any free agents he does get, unlike Billy King he signs them to 1-2 year deals. Billy would sign him for 8 years and $50 million. Battie is here to help teach the younger guys and be the go-to defensive big when we need it. Would you rather have Sammy D back? Not every free agent is going to be a LeBron or Bosh. We got what we were lacking a defensive big vet. Until Brand/Iguodala (admitingly Ed's fault 100%) come off the books either via trade (Iguodala) or expiring (Brand) we're pretty stuck with what we got. We have improved overall defensively with drafting Turner, getting Nocioni and now this signing. All of you dreaming of an overnight change ala Boston when they got KG and Ray need to keep on dreaming. It's not happening here. Not that quick.— joecooler2u
- He is a bench warmer on a rebuilding team, his signing is not meant to appease the fans. Hopefully he teaches some of the younger big guys about playing D and crashing boards while we blow next season (accumulating a high draft pick that you all know we need to really rebuild) and if not he'll be gone next year either way.— troke
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.
