The 76ers have not changed their free-agent strategy, but things may have been altered Tuesday when Orlando pulled its qualifying offer to Darko Milicic, making the 7-foot power forward an unrestricted free agent.
The Sixers have made re-signing their own unrestricted free agent, Joe Smith, their top priority, but now Milicic could provide another option, although the Sixers would not be the favorites to sign him.
"We've been on top of the [Milicic] situation from the beginning and we have been in contact with his agent and we'll see how it plays out," Tony DiLeo, the Sixers' senior vice president, said yesterday before the team left for the Las Vegas summer league, which begins play today.
Milicic, 22, is a native of Serbia and Montenegro who averaged 8 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Magic last season.
Because the Sixers were over the $53,135,000 salary cap last season, the most they can offer Milicic is the midlevel exception, believed to be about $5.5 million per year.
"Obviously, teams under the cap have an advantage in a situation like this," DiLeo said.
Teams with significant room under the salary cap include Milwaukee, Charlotte and Memphis. A number of other teams also would be able to offer the midlevel exception to Milicic.
The Sixers have a good relationship with Milicic's agent, Marc Cornstein, who is also the agent for Sixers center Samuel Dalembert. Cornstein was not available for comment yesterday.
Smith's agent, Dan Fegan, has been unavailable for comment throughout the free-agent process.
Even if the Sixers don't sign Milicic, he becomes another power forward on the market. It's possible that a team that was looking at Smith could change directions.
But the Sixers aren't pinning all their hopes on Smith or Milicic. "There are other players we are talking to," said DiLeo, who declined to name them.
The Sixers have yet to have serious talks with Malik Allen, the former Villanova and Shawnee High forward who is an unrestricted free agent after playing in Chicago last year.
"We have had periodic, brief discussions with the Sixers since the end of the season," said Allen's agent, Bill Strickland.
According to a source, the Sixers have inquired about 7-foot Mikki Moore, a free agent who averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 60.9 percent from the field, for New Jersey last season.
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I don't think Darko would be that bad as a Sixer. I think he gives the team different look and he is still pretty young. He really hasn't had the option of consistent playing time since he was riding the bench in Detroit but with an opportunity I think he may do well.
whats wrong with Darko, he can play the 4 for ya'll couldn't he?
I personally don't think he's that good, and definately not worth the money he's looking for.
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Darco is going to Memphis. Looks like the FA speculation continues... BTW, he is getting more than $5.3 million a year, which is way too much in my opinion.
Looks like billy king got out-dumbed on this one. I don't know what the big deal is. Darko, even if he's only this good the rest of his career, would at least give them a good backup PF. Overpaid, yes, but King's going to overpay somebody, at least this one would have something of a point.
I personally don't think he's that good, and definately not worth the money he's looking for.
He's the type of player that needs to be on the right team in the right system in order for him to flourish in this league. His confidence is probably shot right now after being labeled, "the big bust".
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considering this is the franchise that gave Sam Dumberbert and willie-ever-be-anything-other-than-a-benchwarmer Green a ridiculous contract we should expect darko to be suiting up anytime soon
Darko catches the Sixers' eye..
Darko catches the Sixers' eye..
GO TRAIL BLAZERS!!! 
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