The 76ers and general manager Ed Stefanski officially announced the signing of veteran forward Donyell Marshall yesterday.

Per team policy, the Sixers would not disclose terms of the agreement, but the contract is believed to be for the veteran minimum, which, for a player such as Marshall with 14 years in the league, would be $1.26 million.

The addition of the 6-foot-9 Marshall is the Sixers' sixth free-agent signing, including two of their own, since the blockbuster addition of two-time all-star power forward Elton Brand in early July jump-started what turned out to be a very busy summer for the organization.

The Sixers now have 13 players under contract for this season.

"Donyell Marshall has proven time and time again his value as a player in this league," Stefanski said. "We believe his ability to stretch defenses with his perimeter shooting will prove to be a great asset for our team, and we look forward to having him back home in Philadelphia."

Marshall, who has career averages of 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 932 career NBA games, played last season for the Oklahoma City franchise, then located in Seattle.

When it became clear Marshall's time with Oklahoma City was nearing its end, agent Andy Miller asked his client where he would like to go.

Marshall, who starred at Reading High in the early '90s, told him he "wanted to go home."

"I said, 'Where's your home?' " Miller said. "He said, 'My home is the Sixers. I want to go home to the Sixers.' "

Miller contacted Stefanski, who said the organization would be interested once Marshall cleared waivers.

Miller said Marshall hopes to finish his career in a Sixers uniform.

"Donyell is the consummate veteran," Miller said. "He's done it all, seen it all. He wants to be as much a cerebral and veteran contributor. He knows his opportunity and minutes will fluctuate. He's beyond the window dressing of this thing."

Marshall was the Minnesota Timberwolves' first-round pick, No. 4 overall out of Connecticut, in the 1994 NBA draft. He has played for Minnesota, Golden State, Utah, Chicago, Toronto, Cleveland and Seattle.