The 76ers need a veteran point guard, but they really could use a Reggie Evans and a Theo Ratliff - reserve players the team parted company with after last season.
To offset the loss of Evans and Ratliff - their relative production will be hard to replace - the Sixers are looking at 7-foot-1 Primoz Brezec (Toronto), 7-0 Aaron Gray (Chicago), 7-0 Ryan Hollins (Dallas), 6-11 Jake Voskuhl (Toronto), 6-10 Adonis Foyle (Orlando) and 6-11 Jared Reiner. Reiner, who has 46 career games under his belt in two seasons, has not played in the NBA since he was with Milwaukee in 2006-07.
Evans, a 6-8 banger who was sent to Toronto for Jason Kapono, was a crowd favorite who regularly brought energy. In each of the last six seasons - two with the Sixers - Evans ranked in the NBA's top 10 in rebounds per 48 minutes.
Though he played in only 46 games, the 6-11 Ratliff was second on the team in blocked shots, and averaged 3.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes. The 36-year-old center, who criticized then-coach Tony DiLeo after Orlando eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs, agreed Wednesday to a deal for next season with the Spurs, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Among the guards the Sixers are interested in, Miami Heat free agent Luther Head is intriguing, especially if Andre Miller leaves.
Yesterday, talks between Miller and the New York Knicks were said to be heating up, and a league source said Portland also was going after the free-agent point guard.
At 6-3, Head can play both guard positions, and he is a tough defender. The Illinois product has averaged 8.6 points per game over his five-year career, with a high of 10.9 in 2006-07.
Head's agent said he would be a good fit for the Princeton Offense the Sixers will run under first-year coach Eddie Jordan.
"They ran similar stuff at Illinois," agent Mark Bartlestein said. "We're having ongoing conversations with the Sixers . They're involved with Andre Miller, so we'll see what happens in the coming days."
Notes. The Sixers had interest in restricted free-agent guard C.J. Watson, who played for Golden State last season. But the 6-2, two-year veteran wants a multiyear contract, which the Sixers are not offering. . . . The Sixers are talking about 6-3 Jamaal Tinsley, who was released by Indiana on Wednesday after the sides agreed on a buyout. The Pacers sat the seven-year vet for the 2008-09 season because of disciplinary issues. He was connected with three late-night conflicts in a 14-month span.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.
