"I said OK, we'll see if we can get something done," Miller told the Daily News yesterday. "But I also said we should talk about contingencies in case it didn't work out. He said he didn't want to talk about contingencies, that he wanted to hear a yes or a no from the Sixers first."

The Sixers are saying yes.

The Sixers, according to Miller, have agreed to terms, and Marshall is scheduled to meet with them today and he will likely undergo a physical examination and sign a contract within the next few days.

The contract is likely to be for $1,262,275, the veterans' minimum for players with at least 10 seasons of experience in the NBA, with a portion of the salary coming from a league-wide pool.

The Sixers have had interest in Marshall, 35, for many weeks, but bided their time while he remained under contract to Oklahoma City with a salary of more than $5 million. When the franchise that is transplanting from Seattle waived him in a buyout situation, the Sixers - in search of a perimeter shooter - made contact.

"I don't think it was as if they were saving a spot for Donyell, it was more a case that they would have interest if he were to become a free agent," Miller said.

Miller also had some doubts about interest in his client when the Sixers added Theo Ratliff as a free agent.

Ed Stefanski, the Sixers president/general manager, contacted by the Daily News via e-mail, declined comment. Stefanski has been in serious discussions about Marshall since last week.

Marshall landed with Seattle/Oklahoma City last season as part of an 11-player trade that also included the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Marshall was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1994 draft, selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves from Connecticut, where he was Big East Player of the Year. He has appeared in 932 games over his career, including 15 games with the then-SuperSonics and 11 with the Cavaliers last season.

He has also logged time with the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Chicago and Toronto Raptors. Playing for the Raptors against the Sixers March 13, 2005, he tied a league record by hitting 12 three-pointers.

"He understands that his role will be contingent on what the Sixers need, but he fully expects to be able to offer some veteran leadership," Miller said. "Nothing has changed about his ability to shoot and rebound and run. He tends to take some criticism because he has sort of a weird body, but he takes a lot of pride in his game." *