The 76ers have confirmed that Jason Smith is out for the entire season.

But, truthfully, didn't we already know that?

Isn't that how long it long it takes to fully recover from surgery to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a knee?

Smith, the Sixers' second-year big man, underwent the procedure on his left knee last week. Mark Bartelstein, Smith's agent, said at the time that it was far more important to make certain that his client rehabs properly and gives himself the best opportunity to come back as strong as possible, whenever that might be.

And that's still what Bartelstein is saying.

"If anything, the surgery went great, the rehab has already started," Bartelstein said. "Nothing has changed [in terms of the degree of injury or time frame for recovery]. Things are getting better every day. It was never a goal for Jason to play this season. The goal was - and is - for him to be 100 percent."

Smith, though, will count against the NBA roster maximum of 15. The Sixers, who open training camp Sept. 29 at Penn State, currently have 14 players. *