Earlier this season there was speculation that Larry Brown might leave the Sixers. There is a clause in his contract that allows him the chance to opt out each summer. It sounds like he plans on staying.

Ashley McGeachy Fox of the Inquirer reports that the day after their season-ending loss to Boston, Larry Brown said his players must prove to him they are willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team; otherwise, they will be gone.

Allen Iverson included.

"We're going to do everything we can to have guys on this team doing it the right way, and if they're not willing to do that, they simply won't be here. You can't have a team, you can't do anything the right way, if everybody is not responsible enough, and sensitive enough to their teammates, to be on time, to practice, to prepare."

Iverson would not speak to reporters who gathered for exit interviews, but Brown talked for nearly 20 minutes. He reiterated his intention to return and coach the Sixers for a sixth season, but he said the disappointment of a premature end to the season made it impossible to fairly judge the Sixers' personnel.

For now, Dikembe Mutombo pledged to spend the summer strengthening his body so that he can better contribute next season. Derrick Coleman will rest his chronically injured left knee for a month, then be reevaluated by team doctors and perhaps have surgery. Brown said he would like to re-sign Matt Harpring, who joined the Sixers last summer but now is a restricted free agent.

It sounded unlikely that free agents Corie Blount, Raja Bell, Jabari Smith and Vonteego Cummings would return to the Sixers next season. Brown said veteran free agent Derrick McKey, who joined the Sixers in January, would have "a job with me forever."

Iverson's status remains a question mark. There have been rumors of Iverson going to New York and speculation that the Sixers could trade him to Toronto for Vince Carter. But there is no indication the Raptors are even interested.

The Inquirer's Steven A. Smith comments on the rumor by writing, "That (Iverson for Carter trade) is nonsense at the moment for one reason: Since the Sixers finished the season exhibiting so little in the way of guts, how could they possibly let go of Iverson by bringing a replacement aboard whose guts are constantly questioned?

Via Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers

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