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's next two needs are a backup point guard and a three-point shooter ? they ranked last in the league beyond the arc in 2007-08, but they only have a $2.8 million trade exception, the $1.8 million bi-annual exception and minimum salaries with which to fill them.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: G Kevin Ollie, F Shavlik Randolph, F Louis Amundson and F/C Herbert Hill are unrestricted free agents who won't be back. C Calvin Booth was traded to the Timberwolves to clear cap space after picking up a $1.14 million player option. F/G Andre Iguodala and G Lou Williams are restricted free agents who played key roles in 2007-08. Iguodala already turned down a five-year, $57 million extension, which president/GM Ed Stefanski does not have to and might not offer him. It'll be interesting to see how much money Williams, who earned the third-year minimum of $800,000, is seeking.

PLAYER NOTES:

--F/G Andre Iguodala was picked to the USA Select Team for the second straight year. He is among 10 young rising stars helping the senior national team prepare for the Beijing Olympics, although he's not scrimmaging because he's a restricted free agent.

--Rookie F Marreese Speights signed with the Sixers after averaging a double-double (18.2 points, 10.2 rebounds) in five games at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. As the 16th pick, Speights couldn't receive more than $1.54 million this year and $1.66 million in 2009-10. The Sixers hold options on his third and fourth seasons for $1.8 million and $2.7 million.

--F/C Jason Smith averaged 7.0 fouls in five NBA Summer League games. Smith, who said he wants to be more assertive as a second-year pro, committed as many as 11 against the Warriors.

"I stayed nice and aggressive," Smith said. "I wasn't tentative at all. I think it's just because of my aggressiveness and not being afraid to go after rebounds or screen somebody hard and strong and physical."

--Should rookie F Marreese Speights continue to wear No. 16, as he did in the summer league, he'll become the first Sixer to do so since Bailey Howell in 1970-71.