"There would be no better ending to my career then to play for the Sixers and hopefully end my career in Philadelphia."

Marshall agreed to a one-year deal with Philadelphia this week and became the latest free agent to join a team pointed toward a run in the Eastern Conference. The 6-foot-9 Marshall has averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 seasons and tied the NBA record for 3-pointers in a game with 12 against the Sixers in 2005.

"It was also a good feeling playing against the Sixers, knowing a lot of people from my hometown were watching and it was also my wife's birthday," he said.

Marshall, a Reading native, was the fourth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft by Minnesota. He started last season with Cleveland before being sent to Seattle in a three-team trade in February. He was waived in August.

"As soon as there was talk of a buyout, my agent started asking me what teams would I be interested in. After I saw that Elton Brand signing, I told him I would be interested in the Sixers," he said. "My agent gave them a call and they said they were interested."

The Sixers have been busy this summer after reaching the playoffs for the first time in three years. They signed Brand, added free-agent guards Royal Ivey and Kareem Rush, free-agent center Theo Ratliff, and re-signed two of their most important players to long-term contracts, guard Louis Williams and forward Andre Iguodala.

"I am excited to come to a team that made plenty of moves to move in the right direction and has a good chance of winning," he said.