One year ago, Todd MacCulloch was the 76ers' fourth big man, behind Theo Ratliff, Tyrone Hill and Matt Geiger. Nazr Mohammed was MacCulloch's backup. Today, MacCulloch is the starting center for the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Nets, Mohammed starts in the middle for the Atlanta Hawks and the Sixers can use another big man.

And both have been much more effective than they ever were with the Sixers.

"Of course, we would have loved for those guys to play," said George Lynch, a former Sixer now on the Charlotte Hornets' injured list. "When they did play, they played well for us. There are only 48 minutes in a game and you can only put five guys out there."