BIGGEST NEEDS: The Sixers landed the power forward they craved in unrestricted free agent Elton Brand, thanks to a five-year, $83 million contract. That took care of their weakest position with Brand, a 20- and 10-career guy. The team added a backup point guard in Royal Ivey, a decent outside shooter in Kareem Rush, a backup big man in Theo Ratliff and veteran F Donyell Marshall -- all to veterans' minimum contracts. A few non-guaranteed players should round out the roster for the Sept. 30 start of camp.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: G Kevin Ollie, F Shavlik Randolph, F Louis Amundson and F/C Herbert Hill are unrestricted free agents who the Sixers renounced. C Calvin Booth was traded to the Timberwolves to clear cap space after picking up a $1.14 million player option. G Lou Williams signed a five-year deal worth roughly $25 million to remain with Philadelphia. F/G Andre Iguodala agreed to a six-year, $80 million deal. Ratliff just signed a one-year deal for the 10-year minimum of $1.26 million to back up Samuel Dalembert at center, while Marshall inked a similar $1.26 million contract to bolster the bench and provide leadership to the young players.

PLAYER NOTES:

--C Theo Ratliff, who signed for the 10-year veterans' minimum of $1.26 million, said he can still have an impact on the floor, even though he's not the player he was in his first stint as a Sixer.

"I can't play 35 minutes a game," said the 35-year-old Ratliff. "I still feel like I've got a lot of game in me. I can go out on the court and be competitive. I still intimidate people coming into that hoop."

--The Sixers' glut of guard and swingmen would seem to indicate not everybody can earn minutes in Mo Cheeks' rotation, but Sixers president Ed Stefanski said G Willie Green isn't on the trading block. Green was the starter at shooting guard last season. This year, the Sixers may move Andre Iguodala from small forward to shooting guard to give Thaddeus Young more minutes at the "three" spot. Andre Miller and Lou Williams will also play significant minutes, with free agent acquisitions Royal Ivey and Kareem Rush also in the mix.

"Willie is a part of the team and we are not making any moves with the team right now," Stefanski said. "Willie will get an opportunity to play basketball, no doubt about it."

--When F Reggie Evans threw out the first pitch at a recent Phillies game, it marked the first time he had ever attended a major league game. After receiving some instruction from Washington Nationals coach Pat Corrales, he delivered a high-and-inside pitch in front of a sold-out crowd. Afterward, he signed a bunch of baseballs for kids at the game.

"I'm used to signing basketballs," said a smiling Evans. "This is a little different. I'm going to have to work on this."