Sixers Notes: Sixers cut Brown and Morris, bring in reserves
The 76ers said hello to Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown and goodbye to Kwame Brown and Darius Morris on Wednesday.
The 76ers said hello to Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown and goodbye to Kwame Brown and Darius Morris on Wednesday.
Lorenzo Brown, a point guard, and Williams, a shooting guard, were signed to free-agent contracts on the day the Sixers released Kwame Brown and Morris.
Lorenzo Brown, a 6-foot-5, 186-pounder, was selected with the 52d overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in June's draft. He was released before the season.
"I think I can provide a little bit of everything," said Brown, who worked out with the Sixers four weeks ago and learned he would join the team Tuesday. "I like the way the guys play right now. I have been watching them so far. Really looking at [point guards] Tony [Wroten] and Michael [Carter-Williams] and how they have been playing with the team, I feel like I can make an adjustment with that."
Williams was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 22d overall pick in 2010. The 6-5, 190-pounder missed most of his rookie season after dislocating his shoulder. He played in 24 games for Portland in 2011-12 but missed the entire 2012-13 campaign with an Achilles injury. The former Memphis standout played in six games with Cleveland in the preseason.
"I think both have a chance," general manager Sam Hinkie said of Williams and Brown. "All of the players we are out looking for have a chance to prove that they are NBA players."
Kwame Brown, a 6-foot-11, 290-pound center, was sidelined in the preseason and the regular season with a hamstring injury. His departure comes as no surprise. There was a thought that the team would buy out his $3 million salary before the season began.
In 2001, the Washington Wizards made Brown the first high school player to be selected first overall in the draft.
He has averaged 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 607 career games with the Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors, and Sixers.
"Kwame's injuries got the better of him," said Sixers coach Brett Brown, who added: "I'm convinced that if he can find a career-best fitness level, that he still has value. A big man that moves like he moves, he still has value."
Morris averaged 6.9 points and 2.6 assists in 12 games after signing with the Sixers in September. He scored a season-high 20 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, but Wroten has beaten him out for the backup point guard job.
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