Yesterday, on the floor of the Wachovia Center, Iguodala and 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski officially announced what was first reported last week: Iguodala, 24, the Sixers' leading scorer last season and restricted free agent this summer, is staying put.

The Sixers, per team policy, wouldn't disclose specifics.

But a league source said the deal is worth $80 million over six years, with incentives worth an additional $5 million, and a player option for the sixth season.

Stefanski said retaining Iguodala put an exclamation point on what has been a busy, but productive, summer.

"We had a plan going in," Stefanski said. "It's hard to execute because you need to be fortunate. Opportunities have to arise and we were fortunate this off-season."

Stefanski called Iguodala a "unique player in the NBA" because of his ability to score, handle, pass, rebound, and defend.

"Basketball people in the NBA have a high regard for Andre Iguodala because of all his attributes," Stefanski said.

Iguodala's future has been the elephant in the room since the Sixers' blockbuster free-agent acquisition of Elton Brand in early July. As each piece fell into place after Brand, the lingering question was always, "What about Iguodala?"

Iguodala's brother, Frank, said that once the Sixers finalized the Brand deal, he and his brother got on a three-way call with agent Rob Pelinka. Iguodala kept saying, "We have to get this done."

For his part, Stefanski never wavered, sounding throughout July like a broken record, repeatedly calling Iguodala a "priority," and saying the negotiations were "progressing."

Stefanski made good on a contract worth significantly more than the five-year, $57 million extension offer Iguodala and Pelinka rejected last October.

"A lot of people were saying, 'Gosh you turned down a lot of money last year,' but we looked at it as a challenge," said Pelinka, who also represents the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. "Together we had the belief in what he can do as a player. It obviously worked out for him."

Iguodala said returning to the Sixers was always his top choice. He said he was in the gym last week working out and when he left he had a few missed calls from Pelinka. When the two finally connected, Pelinka informed him the deal was done.

"I want to improve as a player in this city," Iguodala said. "This is definitely my first choice."

Iguodala's critics questioned his value after his showing in the Sixers' six-game playoff loss to Detroit: Iguodala averaged just 13.3 points per game, shot 14.3 percent from three-point range and was shadowed from baseline to baseline by the lanky Tayshaun Prince.

Stefanski said reviewing tapes of those playoff games solidified his belief in what needed to be done this summer.

"[Andre] had one guy guarding him and another four guys waiting on him," Stefanski said. "It's extremely difficult to do something with that. And that's why we made it a major goal of ours to go out and get that other piece to help us, to help Andre. We did it when we got an Elton Brand type."

Stefanski said the Sixers will make a final move this summer, for a big man to replace center Jason Smith, who early last week tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

It has been reported the 76ers extended a veteran minimum offer to Theo Ratliff, a 6-foot-10 center-forward who played with the Sixers from 1997 until he was traded for Dikembe Mutombo in 2001.

Stefanski would not specifically comment, but said he hopes to have a big man in place "within 48 hours."

Making amends. Today at 10 a.m. the Sixers will make an additional "Summer Hoops Tour" stop at Clayton High School in Gloucester County. On Aug. 4, the Sixers and Clayton organizers miscommunicated, leaving 85 kids disappointed. The Sixers are making up for it by sending not only the traditional summer tour lineup, but also Stefanski and the Sixers' dancers.