Last season, with Barkley embroiled in a series of loud embarrassments, the team slogged to a 35-47 record and missed the playoffs for just the second time in 17 seasons.
"Sure, I'd love to have Charles if everything was right with the team," said new coach Doug Moe, who will implement a high-octane, running game this season. "A couple of years ago, the situation was different. He was different.
"We're excited about the trade because we get a little younger, add some depth. Though you hate to lose a guy with the potential to carry a team to a championship, unfortunately that would have been difficult with what's passed under the bridge."
The package received in exchange for Barkley contains no marquee names. The three players will fit into specific roles and, the Sixers hope, help blend the team into a happy, winning unit once again.
Coming to Philadelphia from Phoenix are:
* Tim Perry, 27, a 6-foot-9 forward who played at Temple University.
* Jeff Hornacek, 29, a versatile 6-4 guard who led the Suns in scoring last season and was in the All-Star Game.
* Andrew Lang, 25, a 6-11 center of modest offensive ability whose specialties are shot-blocking and rebounding.
Barkley was declared not a Sixer on the same day he was found not guilty of battery and disorderly conduct by a Milwaukee jury. The trial stemmed from an incident in December in which Barkley broke the nose of a Milwaukee man who followed him out of a bar late at night.
Barkley received word of the trade shortly before leaving Milwaukee last night.
"It's very difficult. . . . I don't know whether I'm happy, sad or
indifferent," Barkley said after arriving in Philadelphia. "This is business. I always enjoyed Philadelphia. The fans were good to me. The people who don't like me, I just can't worry about them."
