Sixers Notes: Free agency not big in Sixers' immediate plans

HOUSTON - The league's elite free agents will not sign with the 76ers this summer. And it's not because of the inferior practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

They wouldn't sign even if they were practicing in the Taj Mahal.

Here's why:

"It's all aligned to we are not going to be pursuing free agents for a while," said Sixers coach Brett Brown, whose franchise plans to build a new practice facility in two seasons. "We are about development. Once the alignment with development collides with a bunch of other things in the program, then you can start talking about free agents.

"No free agent is going to want to come to Philadelphia at this stage. Why would a good free agent want to come in and be a part of a rebuild?"

The Sixers hope they will be a desired destination for free agents in two seasons.

By then, rookie Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel will be more established. Thaddeus Young, still just 25 years old, will be a youthful veteran leader, if he remains with the team. And the Sixers would have developed this summer's would-be draft picks.

"You say, 'Oh there's a program of the future in an unbelievable city,' " Brown said. "That's the evolution of the program aligned with the practice facility, which is two years away."

Nunnally signs. The Sixers announced the signing of James Nunnally to a second 10-day contract Thursday morning. The call-up from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League averaged 2.2 points and 12.4 minutes in his five games with the Sixers. Nunnally had eight points, two steals, and a blocked shot against the Chicago Bulls on March 19.