Lavoy is Back in Town: Allen Signs Two-Year, 6-Mil Extension

Of all the "Sixers Re-Sign ____" headlines we might be seeing over the
next few weeks now that free agency is starting, this is the one that
should cause the fewest heart attacks. Lavoy Allen, local Temple grad,
had a strong rookie season, was one of the most reliable Sixers in their
unexpectedly deep playoff run this year, particularly proving the
team's one big that stood any chance of hanging with Celtics
seven-footer Kevin Garnett. He's not a franchise guy and he's probably
not a core player, but he's a valuable reserve and just 23 years old.
Clerical laziness meant that the second-rounder would become a
restricted free agent after his rookie season, but it was obvious the
Sixers would move quickly to re-secure his services.

So, two years, six million for Lavoy. Sounds reasonable enough. With
Elton Brand on his way out—next off-season, if not earlier—and the
Sixers' frontcourt spots otherwise highly unstabilized, we need all the
cheap, reliable frontcourt help we can get, and Lavoy certainly earned
his stripes in that Celtics series. We don't know if he can be a starter
yet, as his unlikely run as the team's first-line center last season
ultimately ran aground, but he's got the potential, and at the very
least is a fine backup and energy guy off the bench. At three mil a
year, that's a good enough worst-case scenario. And there was always the
risk that some other team would sign him to an oversized offer sheet
(like the $3 year / 25 mil deal our old friend Omer Asik of the Bulls
just signed with Houston) that the Sixers would have to contemplate
matching, so it's good to see Philly lock him up quick just in case.

Of course, still moves that need be made here—currently, our big man
rotation consists of Elton, Lavoy, Nik Vucevic, rookie Arnett Moultrie,
and, uh...we still got Tony Battie back there somewhere? Needless to
say, improvements must (or at least really, really should) be made from
here, but this is a good first step. Next up: NOT signing Spencer Hawes
to a contract twice this size in length and expense.