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| Spencer Hawes will reportedly stick around with the Sixers. (Getty Images) |
National holiday or not, the Philadelphia 76ers reportedly took care of some business on Wednesday.
Philadelphia has agreed to re-sign unrestricted free agent center Spencer Hawes to a 2-year deal worth $13 million, according to Yahoo Sports and SI.com.
Hawes, 24, has posted career averages of 8.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in five seasons with the Sacramento Kings and the 76ers. He was traded by Sacramento to Philadelphia in 2010 along with forward Andres Nocioni in exchange for center Samuel Dalembert.
Perhaps best known for his outspoken Republican-leaning political opinions, Hawes missed some time in 2011-12 with back and Achilles injuries. The contract represents a nice pay day, considering those circumstances and the fact that he's no better than serviceable. For Philadelphia, this comes down to avoiding a gaping hole in the middle. $6 million per year is about the market rate for an occasionally effective 7-footer and the only other big man under contract for next season is reserve big man Nikola Vucevic, who is entering his second season, although the Sixers did draft forwards Arnett Moultrie and Moe Harkless.
Hawes' signing is the first major move of the free agency period for Philadelphia, who advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals as the No. 8 seed, where they were eventually eliminated by the Boston Celtics. The 76ers must decide whether to re-sign unrestricted free agent guard Lou Williams and also face a decision on whether or not to amnesty forward Elton Brand.
