A flurry of Sixers moves Friday could give the team a needed shooting guard while shedding one huge contract and letting a scoring threat go.
The 76ers have agreed to a one-year contract with guard Nick Young.
Young's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told The Associated Press on Friday that the deal is for one season in the $6 million range. Deals cannot be signed until July 11.
Young spent the first four-plus seasons with the Washington Wizards before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in March. He's averaged 11.4 points over his career.
To make salary cap space for Young and possibly other moves to come the Sixers are expected to amnesty Elton Brand.
Per CSNPhilly.com's John Finger:
Shortly after coming to terms with Young, a team source said the Sixers had exercised the amnesty clause on veteran power forward Elton Brand. By using their amnesty, the Sixers removed Brand’s $18 million off the salary cap, which will allow the team to sign Young as well as pursue a scorer and some backcourt depth. One of those signings could include (Lou) Williams, who led the team in scoring last season.
The moves also clear enough space under the cap that the Sixers could take on salary in a trade, too.
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Philly.com's Deep Sixer blog also reported that Brand would be cut.
Cutting Brand does free up cap space for now but his expiring contract could have been a key piece mid-season if the Sixers needed to make a deal.
It looks like Lou Will won’t be one of the pieces the Sixers use the extra money to sign.
As news of the Young signing broke, Williams tweeted that he won’t be coming back to the Sixers.
"Philly, I appreciate you all. Unfortunately I will not be coming back, as an organization they decided to move in a different direction."
Stay tuned to see exactly how all these moves pan out come Wednesday when NBA deals can first be finalized.
