PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia 76ers, hampered by injuries most of the season, signed veteran forward Derrick
McKey on Monday.
McKey, 35, spent the past eight years with the Indiana Pacers, but was waived in October at the end of training camp.
McKey will be reunited with Coach Larry Brown, who spent four seasons with the Pacers before coming to the Sixers before the 1997-98 season.
Best known for his defensive play, McKey averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 66 games for the Pacers last season. Due to injuries, the 6-10 McKey has played in just 111 games over the
last three seasons.
The Sixers placed center Jabari Smith on the injured list with left knee tendinitis to make room on the roster for McKey.
Smith signed with Philadelphia on December 30 and averaged 1.4 points and 5.4 minutes in five games.
McKey was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the 1987 draft and spent six seasons there before being traded to Indiana for Detlef Schrempf in November 1993.
McKey ranks in the top 10 in four different categories in Pacers' history -- fourth in steals, fifth in seasons, eighth in minutes and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage. He was named
to the NBA All-Defensive second team in 1995 and 1996.
Philadelphia (16-20) got off to a slow start, losing its first five games as reigning Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson recovered from offseason elbow surgery. The Sixers have also
been without guard Eric Snow, forward Derrick Coleman and guard Aaron McKie to various injuries.
