--G Royal Ivey is returning to the Sixers to serve as a veteran guard to complement youngsters Lou Williams and rookie Jrue Holiday at the point. Ivey averaged 3.0 points, 12.1 minutes and shot .332 from the field in 2008-09, his first with the team. He is apparently going to get close to the sixth-year minimum of $959,111.
--F Elton Brand said his torn labrum is fully healed. He sees no reason he won't be 100 percent for the Sept. 28 start of training camp at St. Joseph's University. "I've got full range of motion, full strength and no setbacks at all," Brand said. "I'm ready to go."
--F/C Marreese Speights, a second-year pro, and rookie G Jrue Holiday participated in Nuggets assistant coach Tim Grgurich's camp in Las Vegas during the first week of August. F/C Jason Smith took part in the camp in 2008, only to tear his ACL during a routine basketball drill that forced him to miss the entire 2008-09 season.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Elton Brand (right shoulder surgery) is playing basketball again and expected to be 100 percent prior to the start of training camp.
--F/C Jason Smith (left ACL surgery) has begun basketball activities wearing a brace and should be ready to go for training camp.
DRAFT PICKS:
Jrue Holiday, G, 6-3, UCLA (first round) -- Sixers like him for his defense and ability to play both guard positions, though he expects to play the point in the pros. Likely to be a reserve, at least to start the season.
