MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: G/F Andre Iguodala edges out G Andre Miller. Miller's inability to keep opposing point guards in front of him gives Iguodala the edge even though Iguodala's scoring average dropped from 2007-08 and he finished the Magic series by shooting 18-for-46 (.391) in the final three games, all losses. Iguodala did hit the winning shot in Game 1 at Orlando and led the Sixers in scoring (21.5), assists (6.7) and steals (1.8) in the playoffs, and he scored 20-plus points in five of the six games after last year's postseason meltdown against Detroit.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: C Samuel Dalembert took a big step backward after a solid 2007-08 season. The Sixers' starting center slipped to 6.4 points and 8.5 rebounds in his seventh NBA season, then had career playoff lows of 5.8 and 7.8 in a postseason capped by the Magic's Marcin Gortat outplaying him in Game 6. All that for $10.5 million, with a mere two years and $26 million remaining on his contract. The most amazing thing is that Dalembert still hasn't developed a go-to offensive move. FREE AGENT FOCUS: G Andre Miller, who skipped the final team meeting, is the only significant unrestricted free agent.
G Royal Ivey opted out of his $1 million player option.
PLAYER NOTES:
--F Thaddeus Young and G/F Andre Iguodala are about to be named to the 24-man USA Basketball mini-camp slated for Las Vegas from July 22-25. Some members of that group will represent the U.S. in world championship and Olympic competition in 2010 and 2012.
Iguodala, 25, was picked to the USA select team that scrimmaged against the U.S. Olympians last summer. He led the Sixers in scoring for the second consecutive season. Young, 21, is coming off a second season in which he averaged 15.3 points, a significant increase from his 8.2 as a rookie.
--F/C Jason Smith has begun on-court work in preparation for the 2009-10 season. Smith missed the entire 2008-09 campaign with a torn left ACL he suffered last August while doing a normal drill. He must wear a knee brace for the next three months. The 7-foot Smith appeared in 76 games as a rookie, averaging 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 14.5 minutes.
--G/F Andre Iguodala told team president Ed Stefanski that the addition of F/G Jason Kapono "will clear lanes for me." F Elton Brand texted his satisfaction at acquiring a shooter for F Reggie Evans. F Thaddeus Young was pleased with the move, too.
--G Lou Williams might have an opportunity to start at either guard position, depending on what happens with unrestricted free agent G Andre Miller and what position F/G Andre Iguodala plays. Williams' fourth NBA season wasn't much -- if any -- better than his third.
"This is a big summer for him," Stefanski said.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Elton Brand (torn right labrum) continues rehabilitating from shoulder surgery and is expected to be healthy for the start of the training camp.
--F/C Jason Smith (torn ACL) is on track to return for the start of camp, though players recovering from such injuries often need more than a full season to return to their previous form.
