Andre Iguodala

LAS VEGAS — Here in a city where gambling is a way of life and there are few sure things, it was a safe bet that Andre Iguodala got a good night's sleep Saturday. The 76ers' swingman had tossed and turned 24 hours earlier, partly from anxiety over whether he would make the U.S. Olympic roster and partly because he ate something before going to bed Friday that didn't agree with him. But then came word Saturday from the USA Basketball brass that he had indeed secured one of the final three spots and he could start planning for London.

The more closely you listen to members of the Sixers front office, the more you suspect they have their eyes set on free agency in 2013 rather than 2012. When asked whether selecting 6-foot-8 Maurice Harkless and acquiring 6-11 center Arnett Moultrie by trade later in the first round of the NBA draft - two players the Sixers had ranked in the top 10 - would in any way influence what the team will do in free agency, which begins Sunday, coach Doug Collins opened a small window to allow a look at what the team's thinking may be. "Well, I think it plays a big part," Collins said, making it easy to surmise that the acquisition of a small forward and a power forward, respectively, might make the team more eager to trade Andre Iguodala and to perhaps use amnesty on Elton Brand.

One week ago today, when the 76ers worked out Arnett Moultrie and four other big men who were all chosen in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft, Sixers coach Doug Collins knew he wanted Moultrie just five minutes into the session. It was just a matter of how they were going to get him, he said. "Arnett, to me, in five minutes separated himself from all . . . of those guys, just watching him work out," Collins said Friday, referring to John Henson (the 14th overall pick Thursday)

If there were any doubt the 76ers have enjoyed the company of Andre Iguodala long enough, it was dispelled in the first round of the NBA draft Thursday night when they drafted him again. Maurice Harkless, who played just one season at St. John's, is a little taller than Iguodala, but otherwise he is an athletic small forward who can get to the rim, play some defense and does not possess a reliable jump shot. Harkless is only 19 years old and the Sixers sold the pick as a developmental choice, with lame duck team president Rod Thorn emphasizing that his "growth plates are open" and the team expects Harkless to grow into a power forward someday.

IF NOTHING else, the Sixers were aggressive in Thursday night's NBA draft. How many consecutive drafts have we watched this mediocre franchise accept its mediocrity by never doing anything creative to acquire multiple assets? We've become used to a Sixers team president - whether it was Billy King or Ed Stefanski - talk about how they were thisclose to moving up or getting another pick, only to have this not come together at the end. And then team president/general manager Rod Thorn made his initial appearance in front of the media after the Sixers selected St. John's freshman forward Moe Harkless with 15th pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

Maligned at times for having too many guys who play the same way and get in each other's way, the 76ers on Thursday added a player who initially looks as if he will add to the logjam that is Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young. However, according to team president Rod Thorn, St. John's Maurice "Moe" Harkless, selected with the 15th overall pick in the NBA draft, will be a unique player who will eventually be a problem for Sixers opponents and not a copy of players they already have.

IF THERE ARE trades in the works or a scheme to move up in Thursday's draft, the 76ers are holding their cards closer to the vest than any card shark.   Tuesday, the team worked out 7-1 Illinois center Myers Leonard at their practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Leonard fits the mode of the big, athletic inside player the team has said it covets, but whether he is on their wanted list remains to be seen. What appeared to be certain after president Rod Thorn addressed the media following Leonard's workout was that 15th is where the Sixers will pick.

While he won't reveal what his plans are for Thursday's draft, Sixers president/general manager Rod Thorn said that when it comes to drafting players and making deals, he relies upon a formula. "Essentially, you draft for talent and you trade for need," Thorn said. The Sixers go into the draft optimistic that they can improve with the 15th, 45th, and 54th picks. After a full meeting with coaches and scouts Thursday, Thorn said the team's biggest needs are to become bigger and more athletic across the front line and to add a shooter.

CHICAGO - The Sixers front office returned from the two days of the Chicago predraft camp brimming with confidence that they will be able to find a good player - perhaps one who contributes immediately - with the 15th pick in the draft and optimistic that they could find players late in the second round when they have the 45th and 54th picks. This is not because they had incredible success at finding Temple's Lavoy Allen with the 50th pick last summer, but because the draft is just deeper than it has been in recent years.

THE NEXT MONTH or so should be an awfully busy one for the 76ers, and it began Wednesday in Chicago with the NBA Draft Combine, which continues through Friday. The Sixers have picks 15, 45 and 54 in the June 28 draft, and coach Doug Collins and president Rod Thorn are leading a small group of front-office types in the Windy City evaluating incoming rookies and interviewing potential picks. The combine features 61 prospects. "We have 18 interviews scheduled [Wednesday through Friday]