Red-carpet treatment good tactic for Sixers

By MARTIN FRANK • Gannett News Service • July 6, 2008 Josh Smith had to love the red-carpet treatment from the 76ers. The limousine rides. The picture of himself on the large videoscreen over center court at the Wachovia Center. A jersey with his name on it hanging in the locker room. Meeting Mayor Nutter. Wining and dining with Sixers' executives. A night at a posh Center City hotel. You can argue that the Sixers haven't put that kind of fullcourt press on a prospective player since Moses Malone in the summer of 1982. All that's missing is the contract offer. That could come as soon as Tuesday when the 76ers find out exactly how much they're under the NBA's salary cap. If it's $11 million, they can offer Smith up to five years and around $65 million. It's too bad for the Sixers that none of this extravagance will guarantee... [read full story]