Spencer Hawes

The worry of 76ers fans after the team lost Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Boston Celtics was that the unexpected playoff run would give management a false hope of security, that overhauling a group that went 35-31 in the shortened season was not now a necessity. Worry no more. On Friday, the NBA approved a four-team trade that brings humongous center Andrew Bynum to the Sixers and sends enigmatic Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets. The Sixers will also get veteran 6-6 shooting guard Jason Richardson and depart with this year's initial first-round draft pick, Maurice Harkless, second-year center Nikola Vucevic and a protected first-round pick, all going to the Orlando Magic.

The 76ers on Thursday got center Kwame Brown's signature on a contract that will pay him $6 million over the next two seasons, his agent said. "It's done. We signed today," Chicago-based Mark Bartelstein said when asked about the status of the deal that Brown and the Sixers agreed to last Friday Brown, the first high school player taken with the No. 1 overall pick, in 2001, has averaged just 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over an 11-year career. Last season, he appeared in just nine games before suffering a torn pectoral muscle that required season-ending surgery.

THE 76ERS SAID after the season was over that they were looking to get bigger and more athletic in the middle, whether it be via draft, trade or free agency. They might have addressed that area a little bit when they got 6-11 Arnett Moultrie, of Mississippi State, in a draft-day trade with Miami last week, but Wednesday, they decided to go back to a comfort zone. According to sources, the team has agreed to a 2-year contract to keep last season's starting center, Spencer Hawes.

Before NBA free agency began on July 1, 76ers president and general manager Rod Thorn said that the team's first order of business would be to re-sign unrestricted free agents Spencer Hawes and Lou Williams. On Wednesday, the 76ers made good on part of that equation, agreeing in principle on a two-year, $13 million deal with Hawes, a center. Hawes can't officially sign the deal, which was first reported by Yahoo Sports, until the league lifts the moratorium on signing contracts on July 11. The Sixers have had conversations with Williams, a shooting guard and the team's leading scorer last season.

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.

Lou Williams wants to be playing for the 76ers this coming season. Sixers president Rod Thorn and coach Doug Collins want him back in his normal role as a scoring guard off the bench. But Williams also wants to see how much interest there is in him throughout the NBA and what kind of contract might be offered by other teams. It is the reason he has decided to opt out of his final contract year with the Sixers. He was scheduled to make $6.39 million in the final year of a five-year, $25 million deal.

LOU WILLIAMS wants to be playing for the 76ers this upcoming season. President Rod Thorn and coach Doug Collins want him to be back in his normal role as scoring guard off the bench. But Williams also wants to see how much interest there is in him throughout the league and what kind of contract might be offered to him by other teams. It is the reason he has decided to opt out of his final contract year with the Sixers. He was scheduled to make $6.39 million in the final year of a 5-year, $25 million deal.

CHICAGO - While the consensus is that there are few legitimate centers available in the NBA draft, the fact remains that the 76ers could be in need of one if they lose unrestricted free agent Spencer Hawes next month. That's why the Sixers, who have the 15th, 45th, and 54th picks in the June 28 draft, might consider spending one of their three picks on a center. When the season ended, Sixers coach Doug Collins made it a point to say that the Sixers have to become bigger and more athletic on the wings.

Players to watch 76ERS: Guard Jrue Holiday When Holiday is scoring and getting into the lane, good things happen for the Sixers offense. When he's dribbling too much, things aren't so good. A tight, productive game with close to 20 points and a 2-1 assist/turnover ratio would go a long way. CELTICS: Point guard Rajon Rondo The Sixers held Rondo to just six assists in Game 6, well below the 14.6 he was averaging in the first five games of the series.