Kori Ellis
08-03-2005, 04:01 AM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Willie Green should have waited before playing basketball again.
On the day the Philadelphia 76ers were expected to announce they had re-signed Green to a $20 million, six-year contract, they instead said the deal was on hold because the guard injured his knee in a pickup game.
Sixers president Billy King said Green suffered cartilage damage and needs knee surgery. No date was announced.
"It's just an unfortunate situation at this time," King said.
Green, who averaged 7.7 points playing sporadically under former coach Jim O'Brien last season, expected to get additional playing time under Maurice Cheeks.
Now, everything is on hold.
"The offer hasn't been rescinded," said Green's agent, Noah Croom. "Billy wants to wait to determine the extent of his injury before we move forward."
Croom described Green, who reads the Bible before most games, as optimistic and upbeat about his future.
"If we don't have Willie it's going to hurt us," Allen Iverson said. "But we have so many guys ready to step up."
That includes swingman Kyle Korver and center Samuel Dalembert, who were re-signed by the Sixers on Tuesday.
Dalembert said he found it difficult to play for O'Brien and might not have stayed in Philadelphia had the former coach stuck around.
"My decision would've been different," said Dalembert. "Nothing against Jim O'Brien, but I could never understand his plans for me. But Mo Cheeks told me I was going to play. Now, if I don't produce, it's on me."
The 6-foot-11 Dalembert, the 76ers' first-round pick in 2001, averaged 8.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.68 blocks last season.
Korver, a 6-foot-6 forward, played in all 82 regular-season games last season and averaged 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 32.5 minutes. He started 57 games and led the team with 226 3-pointers.
On the day the Philadelphia 76ers were expected to announce they had re-signed Green to a $20 million, six-year contract, they instead said the deal was on hold because the guard injured his knee in a pickup game.
Sixers president Billy King said Green suffered cartilage damage and needs knee surgery. No date was announced.
"It's just an unfortunate situation at this time," King said.
Green, who averaged 7.7 points playing sporadically under former coach Jim O'Brien last season, expected to get additional playing time under Maurice Cheeks.
Now, everything is on hold.
"The offer hasn't been rescinded," said Green's agent, Noah Croom. "Billy wants to wait to determine the extent of his injury before we move forward."
Croom described Green, who reads the Bible before most games, as optimistic and upbeat about his future.
"If we don't have Willie it's going to hurt us," Allen Iverson said. "But we have so many guys ready to step up."
That includes swingman Kyle Korver and center Samuel Dalembert, who were re-signed by the Sixers on Tuesday.
Dalembert said he found it difficult to play for O'Brien and might not have stayed in Philadelphia had the former coach stuck around.
"My decision would've been different," said Dalembert. "Nothing against Jim O'Brien, but I could never understand his plans for me. But Mo Cheeks told me I was going to play. Now, if I don't produce, it's on me."
The 6-foot-11 Dalembert, the 76ers' first-round pick in 2001, averaged 8.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.68 blocks last season.
Korver, a 6-foot-6 forward, played in all 82 regular-season games last season and averaged 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 32.5 minutes. He started 57 games and led the team with 226 3-pointers.