Nba Draft

C. J. MCCOLLUM already was getting notice in the Patriot League and the Lehigh Valley. Now he is getting national attention. The Lehigh guard was named to the Associated Press' preseason All-America team announced Monday. McCollum grabbed headlines last season in earning Patriot League Player of the Year honors and plenty of attention from NBA scouts. The 6-3 McCollum averaged 21.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season, leading the Mountain Hawks in all three categories.

Lavoy Allen entered his rookie season with the 76ers without the highest of profiles. He had starred at Pennsbury High and Temple, but Allen, the 50th overall selection in the 2011 NBA draft, probably exceeded the expectations of Sixers fans simply by making the team. Even better, Allen contributed as a rookie and became a vital frontcourt performer in the postseason for the Sixers. This season, his profile, and likely his playing time, will rise. Even with the addition of Andrew Bynum, Allen was expected to see his share of time at power forward and possibly center.

Dorell Wright is not expected to be a starter this season for the 76ers, but he showed Wednesday night that he could excel in that role or any other coach Doug Collins has in mind. Acquired from Golden State in a three-team trade, the 6-foot-9 Wright provides something the Sixers were severely lacking last season - a consistent perimeter game. Starting for the first time in his third preseason appearance for the Sixers, Wright scored 17 points in a 113-99 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Maybe it's because things are still new. Maybe it's because he is making his first trip as a professional to his hometown. Whatever it is, Wednesday's preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center against the 76ers is a big deal for Dion Waiters, a Cleveland Cavaliers rookie and South Philadelphia native. Waiters was the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft after his sophomore season at Syracuse, and his first professional homecoming, albeit in an exhibition setting, is something he has been looking forward to. "It's a special game for me," Waiters said in a phone interview.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mike Bantom was part of the United States basketball team that lost to the Soviet Union in a controversial final at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He said his experience provided a profound message that has stayed with him. In the gold medal game, the United States led by a point with three seconds to go. The Russians had three cracks during the final three seconds and eventually scored on the third to win, 51-50. The Americans felt they were cheated and never accepted their silver medals.

LONDON - As soon as the medal was placed around his neck, Andre Iguodala picked it up with his hands and stared at it. He turned it over, ran his fingers around it, then stared at it some more. He wouldn't let it go. Iguodala's life changed dramatically in the last 4 days, but it hasn't sunk in yet. All he's been able to think about was this medal, and finally it was his. "I just froze for a second," Iguodala said. "Only a small group can say they were in that position. " The U.S. men's basketball team defeated Spain, 107-100, on Sunday afternoon to capture its second straight Olympic gold medal.

The 76ers signed rookies Maurice Harkless and Arnett Moultrie on Tuesday. Harkless was the 15th overall pick in last month's NBA draft. The Sixers acquired Moultrie, drafted with the 27th pick overall pick by Miami, by trading the draft rights to Justin Hamilton (45th pick overall) and a protected future first-round pick. The terms of the deals were not made public. However, in the first year of their deals, Harkless will make $1.73 million and Moultrie will make $1.04 million. Harkless (6-foot-8, 208 pounds)

The Indiana Pacers are sending point guard Darren Collison and wing player Dahntay Jones to the Dallas Mavericks for center Ian Mahinmi, according to the agent for one of the players. Mark Bartelstein, who represents Jones, confirmed Thursday that the deal is in place. "That's going to happen," Bartelstein said. The Mavericks are adding 7-foot center Chris Kaman, a step forward for a team that failed to persuade guard Deron Williams to leave the Brooklyn Nets and play in his hometown.

ORLANDO — Dionte Christmas is a pretty happy soul, with an infectious smile, a hearty laugh and a zest for life that endears many to him. If you want to change that sunny disposition, just mention the date June 25, 2009, to the Temple graduate and he snarls menacingly. That was the date of the NBA draft. Christmas, whom many predicted to be a second-round selection, waited in his Olney home in vain. His name was never called and his road trip to reach his dream job started. There was a training-camp session with the Sixers after his draft snub, but he didn't latch on with the team.

The 76ers reached agreement in principle on a two-year, $6 million contract extension with Lavoy Allen on Sunday, the first day of free agency, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The deal cannot be officially signed until the moratorium on signings is lifted on July 11. Allen, a 23-year-old forward-center from Temple, was the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. After averaging 4.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 41 regular-season games, 15 of them as a starter, Allen was better in the playoffs, averaging 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds.