Philly acquires Ollie (third stint), Brown
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- Point guard Eric Snow was traded by the 76ers to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday for guards Kevin Ollie and Kedrick Brown. This will be Ollie's third stint with Philadelphia.
Snow spent 6½ seasons with the 76ers, averaging 9.7 points and 6.6 assists while helping them to the 2001 Eastern Conference championship.
"Eric was a great captain and a great leader for us, and I wish him the best of luck," 76ers president Billy King said. "This deal will give our younger players an opportunity to play. Kevin is a solid player who will give us the leadership we need in the backcourt, and Kedrick is a developing young player who will add more depth to our bench."
Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien has said he wanted an up-tempo team. That didn't seem to fit Snow, who is a better fit in a half-court offense. O'Brien said in his system there was little need for a true point guard, suggesting Snow's time in Philadelphia could be up.
Snow agreed before last season to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2008-09 season.
A starter the past two seasons, Snow should help solidify Cleveland's backcourt. The Cavaliers had sought depth behind Jeff McInnis. After going 17-65 two seasons ago, the Cavaliers finished 35-47 and might have made the playoffs if not for McInnis' missing nine games down the stretch with a shoulder injury.
The Cavs also have been looking to add defense, something Snow is known for. Playing beside Allen Iverson in the Sixers' backcourt, Snow also has been among the league leaders in assists.
The move rids Cleveland of Ollie's $15 million, five-year contract, clearing room under the salary cap as the Cavaliers look to replace Carlos Boozer.
Boozer last week signed an offer sheet with the Jazz after Cleveland chose not to pick up a one-year option on his contract. The Cavaliers have said Boozer gave his word that he'd sign a long-term deal with Cleveland, a claim Boozer has denied.
Ollie played in Philadelphia during the 1999-00 season and the 2000-01 season when the Sixers advanced to the NBA Finals.
The 6-foot-2 guard has averaged 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in his seven-year NBA career. With the 76ers, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 91 games.
Ollie has played for 10 NBA teams -- Chicago, Dallas, Indiana, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Orlando, Sacramento and Seattle before his one-season stay with the Cavaliers.
Brown, 6-7, was a first-round pick (11th overall) by Boston in the 2001 draft and was traded to the Cavaliers in 2003. He's averaged 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in his career.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1843165
Kevin Ollie is the cousin of former Redskin and my buddy Tydus Winans, who I interviewed several months ago.