The 76ers made it official at a news conference yesterday: They have re-signed free agent Derrick Coleman and penciled him in as their starting center.

And while Coleman sounded very happy about coming back, he sounded less than thrilled about the role he'll be playing.

"If that's what I have to do, then that's what I have to do," he replied when asked about playing center, rather than power forward, his natural position. "Do I like it? No, I don't like it."

Asked later about how forward/center Marc Jackson, acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, might contribute this season, Coleman said with a laugh, "Hopefully, he'll put me back at the power-forward position."

The Sixers already have a starting power forward in Kenny Thomas, whom they re-signed last month, reportedly to a seven-year contract. Coleman signed a three-year deal reportedly worth up to $13.5 million.

Coach Randy Ayers, who attended the news conference along with team president Billy King, said he wasn't bothered in the slightest by Coleman's comments.

"If the season started today, he's our starting center - I think he understands that," Ayers said, adding that he was looking for the 36-year-old Coleman to play 28 to 34 minutes per game. "Our ability to give him minutes at [power forward] is a matter of how quickly some of the other guys develop."