Corliss Williamson's son, Chasen, is happy about his father's trade to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Even if Corliss takes time to adjust to being dealt from the champion Pistons, at least his son is excited.

The 9-year-old boy is a big fan of Allen Iverson.

"(Chasen) was real excited when he found out I got traded," Williamson said. "He asked me where I got traded to and I told him Philadelphia, and he was like 'really?' so he was happy about that."

Corliss knows that he has his work cut out for him playing on a team that did not make the playoffs last year.

"Playing for the 76ers is going to be a challenge because I'm going to a team that didn't make the playoffs last year," Williamson said. "That is going to be tough, but hopefully I can be a big part in a turnaround."

His accolades include being the first Turkish player to win a Euroleague championship, and the first Turkish player to play on a Greek First Division team.  With that, the Sixers? are showing interest in 6?5? long-range bomber Ibrahim Kutluay.  

In order to sign Kutluay, the Sixers would have to clear room on the roster.  The retirement of Todd MacCulloch would be the first obvious move.

Todd MacCulloch, the solid 76er 7-footer and former University of Washington basketball star is pondering retirement at the young age of 28.  Sidelined since February 2003 with never damage in his feet caused by Marie-Charcot-Tooth, he is still seeking a cure.

The Sixers also have 16 players under contract, and a roster that can only support 15.

"Yeah, that's certainly a possibility," MacCulloch said of retirement. "I guess I need to learn the ins and outs of what happens, but having the ability to come back certainly is something that's important to me if this or some other procedure or treatment would allow me to play. I'd really love to have the ability to come back. It might not be immediately, it may not be this season, but I'd certainly like to leave a crack in the door in case something allows me to get back at it."

With the loss of MacCulloch, the NBA is losing a skilled center with all the intangibles coaches look for minus the athleticism and flash and with that a true gentleman of the game.

According to Rogers Sportsnet the Toronto Raptors still have not given up hopes of retaining star guard Vince Carter who has maintained that he wants out of Canada for most of the offseason.

Reports indicate that Carter discretely flew from Florida to Toronto Thursday and spent the day in meetings.  According to sources a member or members of Raptors brass met with Carter, possibly as a final shot at convincing the Raptors star to forgive and forget club president Richard Peddie.  Carter wants Peddie fired, but this scenario appears unlikely to happen as Peddie has full support from the owners, particularly the Teachers Pension Fund.

The article mentions that it is believed the Raptors are exploring deals for the high flyer, with one potential blockbuster that Carter has mentioned to some of his friends seeing the Raptors star heading to Philadelphia, Allen Iverson to Seattle and Ray Allen to Toronto.

Philadelphia 76ers President/General Manager Billy King also indicated that Sixers center Todd MacCulloch, who sat out all of last season with a foot neuropathy, seemed to be moving closer to retiring.

"There won't be anything official until training camp, but the odds of him playing aren't great," King said. "He understands; we understand."

If MacCulloch retires, the Sixers could recoup 80 percent of the remaining $19 million-plus on his contract through '06-07; his money could come off the cap as soon as February '05.

The re-tooling World Champion Detroit Pistons changed another piece of its bench puzzle today, sending former sixth man of the year Corliss Williamson to the Philadelphia 76ers for Detroit native Derrick Coleman and center Amal McCaskill.

Coleman was a favorite of Pistons coach Larry Brown when Brown coached him in Philadelphia.

?We feel like this is a good trade for our team and our organization as we move forward,? said Dumars. ?Corliss Williamson was a very special guy to have on the team for three and a half seasons. We thank him for all of his efforts here on and off the court and we will miss him.?

Coleman, 37, appeared in 34 games with the 76ers last season, averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game. He missed 48 games overall due to injury. Prior to last season, the Detroit native averaged double figures in 11 of his 13 NBA seasons, including a career-high 20.7 points per game during the 1992-93 season with New Jersey. In 776 NBA games, Coleman has averaged 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per game and recorded 343 career double-doubles. He was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 1993 and 1994, started at center for the Eastern Conference at the 1994 NBA All-Star Game and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1991.

Ben Wallace is the only Piston remaining from the 2001-02 season, when the previously 32-50 team rocketed up the East standings to 50-32 under then first year head coach Rick Carlisle.

Allen Iverson and his former coach Larry Brown exchanged some nostalgic words today through the media after the US beat Puerto Rico in Jacksonville today 96-71 without their co-captain.

?They broke a team rule and we are a team,? Brown said. ?They paid the penalty. Nobody wanted to embarrass them, and now we?re moving on.?

Iverson claimed he ?couldn?t have been more than five minutes late.?

?I?m the captain on the team and to be suspended just for being a couple of minutes late just doesn?t sit well for me,? he said. ?I?m supposed to be one of the leaders of the team, and this is not a good look.?