Allen Iverson

Gary Moore, Allen Iverson’s personal manager, said that the four-time scoring champion is planning a return to the NBA next season.

“Allen is working out and he’s getting himself prepared to make his return,” Moore said by phone Friday. “He absolutely will try and play next year.”

“Allen wants to come and help a team win a championship, which he’s completely capable of doing,” Moore said.

ESPN.com

Samuel Dalembert

The Philadelphia 76ers traded Samuel Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes on Thursday.

The deal was agreed to on Tuesday night, and the two teams worked out details Thursday morning.

The deal gives the Kings a player they’ve long coveted in Dalembert. The Kings tried to make several deals with the Sixers last year for Dalembert but couldn’t make it happen.

The trade gives the Sixers a physical combo forward in Nocioni and an up-and-coming big man in Hawes.

ESPN.com

Doug Collins

The Philadelphia 76ers agreed on a four-year deal with TV analyst Doug Collins to become their new coach, according to sources.

An official announcement was likely to come Friday.

Collins is 332-287 in coaching stints with the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.

The 76ers made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 draft, and he played eight seasons with the team.

ESPN.com

Dan Majerle

Phoenix Suns assistant coach Dan Majerle is the latest candidate to be targeted in the Philadelphia 76ers’ coaching search, according to NBA coaching sources.

The Sixers, after receiving permission from the Suns to speak with Majerle, are sending a delegation to meet him in Phoenix on Monday after Game 4 in the Suns-Spurs series.

HoopsWorld

Mark Jackson

Mark Jackson has decided to decline an opportunity to interview for the 76ers’ coaching job.

“It’s just not the right situation for him at this time,’’ was all that was offered by Steve Kauffman, Jackson’s agent.

He is expected to interview for the New Orleans Hornets job, and is hopeful of being contacted by the Los Angeles Clippers and possibly the New Jersey Nets.

Real GM

Larry Brown

The 76ers are expected to contact Larry Brown once the Bobcats are eliminated from the postseason, multiple sources have told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Brown, who led Charlotte to its first-ever playoff appearance, will likely be contacted about Philadelphia’s vacant head coaching position.

However, according to the same sources, it is possible that he could be offered a front office position. Ed Stefanski is currently serving as president and general manager, but his position is not believed to be secure.

Real GM

Eddie Jordan

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced that the team has relieved Eddie Jordan of his head coaching responsibilities.

Effective immediately, the team will begin its search for a new head coach.

“Decisions of this nature are never easy, but I am making this change because I didn’t feel significant progress was being made on either end of the court,” Stefanski said.

Jordan was named the 22nd head coach in team history on June 1, 2009. In one season as head coach of the Sixers, Jordan compiled a 27-55 (.329) record.

Real GM

Thaddeus Young

The 76ers have officially shut down forward Thaddeus Young for the remainder of this season.

Young, who fractured his right thumb March 15, did not travel with the team for Wednesday night’s game against the Miami Heat.

X-rays of Young’s thumb taken before Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons revealed insufficient healing, according to Sixers officials.

HoopsWorld

John Thompson

NBA commissioner David Stern and legendary former Georgetown coach John Thompson recently reached out to troubled ex-76ers guard Allen Iverson.

Stern telephoned Iverson’s agent Monday and asked how he was coping with the myriad of problems that have come his way. The agent said the two spoke for about 10 minutes and he assured the commissioner Iverson is doing fine.

Inside Hoops

Andre Iguodala

Mired in one of the worst shooting slumps in his 6-year career, 76ers forward Andre Iguodala revealed yesterday that he is suffering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Iguodala is just 28-for-85 (32.9 percent) in his past six games after posting 30 points in a home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has also missed 27 of his last 29 shots from beyond the arc.

“It has been hurting for the past couple of weeks,” said Iguodala, who scored 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting in 37 minutes in last night’s 109-93 loss to the Magic.

Inside Hoops