Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Sixers deal Coleman to Detroit for Williamson, page 1

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers have traded forward Derrick Coleman to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forward Corliss Williamson and an undisclosed amount of cash. The Sixers also sent center Amal McCaskill to the Pistons to complete the deal.

Coleman, 6'10", 270 pounds, is a Detroit native. He just completed his 14th NBA season. The first overall selection of the 1990 NBA Draft by New Jersey, Coleman boasts career averages of 16.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.35 blocks with the Nets, Sixers and Hornets.

Last season for the Sixers, Coleman missed 48 games due to injury, The Syracuse University product, Coleman averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.06 blocked shots in his six seasons in Philadelphia.

McCaskill, a free agent who played for the 76ers in 2003-04, was re-signed to a contract today prior to Wednesday's trade.

Williamson, 6'7", 245 pounds, is entering his 10th season in the NBA. He has averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game for Sacramento (1995-2000), Toronto (2000-01), and Detroit (2001-04). In 2001-02, Williamson was awarded the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year after averaging, 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

Last season for the Pistons, he played in 79 games and averaged 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 19.9 minutes per game. He tallied 10-plus points 42 times, and 20-plus points twice. During the Pistons championship run last season, he played in 22 games and posted 5.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. Williamson was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 13th overall selection of the 1995 NBA Draft.

McCaskill, 6'11", 235 pounds, was originally signed as a free agent by the Sixers on July 16, 2003. The four-year NBA veteran averaged 1.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 59 appearances in Philadelphia last season. Drafted in the second round with the 49th overall selection by Orlando, McCaskill has played for the Magic (1996-97), San Antonio (2001-02), Atlanta (2002-03), and Philadelphia (2003-04).