--The Sixers have come to terms with free agent C Primoz Brezec, who spent seven years in the league before playing in Italy last year. Brezec, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in seven seasons with the Pacers, Bobcats, Pistons and Raptors, is expected to receive the eighth-year minimum of $1,107,572. He is expected to come to Philadelphia after he finishes practicing with the Slovenia National Team. That would give the Sixers 12 players with guaranteed contracts.
--The Sixers added Randy Ayers to the coaching staff. Ayers, a former assistant under Larry Brown and the Sixers' head coach for the first 52 games of the 2003-04 season, will run Eddie Jordan's defense. Ayers was an assistant to Jordan in Washington. He joins a staff that includes Mike O'Koren, Jim Lynam and Aaron McKie. --The Sixers will begin the 2009-10 season by visiting the Eastern Conference champion Magic on Oct. 28. Their first game at the Wachovia Center will be an Oct. 30 meeting with the Bucks. Kobe Bryant and the NBA champion L.A. Lakers make their annual appearance Jan. 29, while the Celtics visit Nov. 3 and March 5.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm excited to really show the fans that this is what Ed Stefanski brought me in here for. I'm revved up to show them I can do my job and show them what kind of player they got." -- F Elton Brand, he of the five-year, $82 million contract, on looking forward to his second season in Philadelphia after injuries limited him to 29 games last year.
