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Friday, August 3, 2001
Sixers don't match Nets' offer to MacCulloch
SportsTicker
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Todd MacCulloch is a
member of the New Jersey Nets after the Philadelphia 76ers
decided against matching an offer sheet given to the
seven-footer.
Sixers general manager Billy King said Friday he has informed
the Nets of his decision. King added that he was sad because of
the time and effort the 76ers invested in MacCulloch.
An unproven backup in Philadelphia, MacCulloch will receive a
reported $33.75 million over six years in New Jersey. King said
he deserves the contract.
"Todd was under minimum contracts for his first two years," King
said. "He worked extremely hard and is a quality person. He
was drafted in the second round and has earned everything he
gets."
Nets president Rod Thorn said he was pleased with the Sixers'
decision and added he will reserve further comment until after
the successful completion of MacCulluch's physical and the
signing of his contract.
The Sixers had until Saturday at midnight ET to decide whether
or not to match the offer. To keep MacCulloch, they would have
had to pay a luxury tax after re-signing center Dikembe Mutombo
and guard Aaron McKie to multi-year deals.
MacCulloch, 25, likely will start for the Nets, since they are
not expected to re-sign free agent Evan Eschmeyer and Jim
McIlvaine is coming off an injury-plagued season.
New Jersey also acquired veteran center Chris Dudley from the
Phoenix Suns and selected Stanford center Jason Collins with one
of its three first-round picks.
A second-round pick in 1999, MacCulloch averaged 4.1 points and
2.7 rebounds in 9.5 minutes over 63 games last season. But he
made an impression in the NBA Finals, scoring 13 points and
grabbing five rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench in Game Two.
The Sixers were busy Friday, sending forwards Tyrone Hill and
Jumaine Jones to Cleveland for forwards Matt Harpring, Robert
Traylor and Cedric Henderson and acquiring forward Jerome Moiso
from Boston for forward Roshown McLeod and a future first-round
draft pick.
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