PHILADELPHIA, July 16 -- The Philadephia 76ers Tuesday announced the signing of free agent forward Don MacLean. The 6-foot-10 forward spent the 1995-96 season with the Denver Nuggets.
According to a report in Monday's Philadephia Daily News, the 26- year-old agreed to a contract for five or six seasons at more than $15 million. Last year, MacLean earned $925,000 with the Nuggets. 'Don MacLean is a proven scorer,' said general manager and vice president of basketball operations Brad Greenberg. 'He's competitive, mentally and physically tough and dedicated to helping the 76ers create a positive winning attitude.' MacLean averaged 11.2 points in 56 games last season, but shot 42.6 percent from the field, the lowest mark of his four-year career. He was the Detroit Pistons' first-round pick, 19th overall, in 1992. The all- time leading scorer at UCLA was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and on to the Washington Bullets before he played his first NBA game. 'I've played four years in the NBA and I don't feel like I've been in a situation where the people were totally, completely committed to being a winner,' MacLean said. 'Hopefully the enthusiasm that's been expressed to me can carry over. ... I can start or come off the bench, whatever they ask me to do.' In 1993-94, MacLean averaged 18.2 points on 50.2 percent shooting and was named the league's Most Improved Player. He was traded to Denver with Doug Overton for guard Robert Pack last Oct. 30. To make room for MacLean, the 76ers renounced the rights to forward Ed Pinckney. Pinckney, who played for Villanova, was acquired from the Toronto Raptors in February.
