Still Hunting For A Guard

Acquiring Jason Kapono from Toronto in Tuesday's trade for Reggie Evans addresses a need for the 76ers, but it doesn't affect their search for a guard with the No. 17 pick in the first round of the June 25 NBA draft.

''I think we're going to look for the best guard available, which is what we've been talking about all along,'' president/general manager Ed Stefanski said during a telephone conference call today. ''(New coach Eddie Jordan) is more concerned about (getting) the best player at one of those (backcourt) positions.''

But Jordan, Stefanski said, was clearly pleased about adding Kapono, an outstanding three-point shooter, to the roster.

''Eddie had a big smile on his face when we told him we got (Kapono),'' Stefanski said.

Unrelated . . .

The Sixers, via their web site, are letting us know that Jason Smith has been cleared to escalate his rehabilitation from the left knee surgery he underwent Sept. 17, 2008.

President/general manager Ed Stefanski said Smith is ready for ''basketball work without any limitations'' after being examined by Dr. David Altchek, the attending orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital For Special Surgery in New York.

Smith, who will wear a brace for 2-3 months, will begin with individual skill work and shooting drills, taking incremental steps toward resuming 5-on-5 activity. There is no timetable for the progression. After the press conference to introduce new coach Eddie Jordan, Smith said he planned to be ready for training camp in October.

Smith missed all of this season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Aug. 6, 2008. Altchek performed successful surgery Sept. 17.

And . . .

The Sixers have also scheduled a second group of prospective draftees for tomorrow morning at Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. The group: Dionte Christmas, Temple; Darren Collison, UCLA; Wayne Ellington, North carolina; Jack McClinton, Miami, and Marcus Thornton, LSU.