The Sixers' roster is nearly complete. By signing 14-year veteran forward Donyell Marshall to a minimum-salary deal worth $1.26 million, the Sixers are expected to go into training camp with 14 guaranteed contracts.
While the biggest off-season acquisition was clearly 20- and 10-man Elton Brand, team president Ed Stefanski also addressed three other important areas: depth, experience and leadership. A year ago, the Sixers had unproven guys like Shavlik Randolph and Louis Amundson, as well as limited journeyman Calvin Booth, on their roster. They have been replaced with combo guard Royal Ivey, Donyell Marshall and rookie first-round pick Marreese Speights. The new guys have either been role players on NBA teams or are full of promise (Speights). Assuming a starting unit of Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Brand and Samuel Dalembert, the reserves would be Lou Williams, Willie Green, Kareem Rush, Ivey, Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff, Marshall and Speights. That's a big upgrade, even with second-year big man Jason Smith expected to miss the season with a torn ACL.
"We are very happy with our bench," Stefanski said. "We feel we added to our depth and experience."
The Sixers were quite young and short on vocal leaders in 2007-08. Brand, Ratliff and Marshall should help change that.
"Ratliff and Marshall are two very strong professionals who will also act as mentors for our young players," Stefanski said.
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