Sixers agree to trade Carney to T-Wolves; Brand going to Philly?

76ers spokesman Mike Preston had no comment on Brand.

The trade allows the rebuilding Timberwolves, who have long been one of the worst cap managers in the league, to continue putting themselves in a position to be a major player on the free agent markets in 2009 and 2010.

Carney has one year remaining on his contract with a team option for 2009-10, while Booth will come off the books at the end of the upcoming season, unless a buyout agreement is reached before that.

The Timberwolves received the trade exception from the Heat because they took on less cash than they gave up in a deal last October that sent Mark Blount and Ricky Davis to Miami in exchange for Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac and Wayne Simien. That deal allowed them to rid themselves of Blount's bloated contract.

On draft night in June, the Timberwolves were able to unload Marko Jaric's hefty deal, shipping him to Memphis with O.J. Mayo, Walker and Greg Buckner for Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal. All three of the Grizzlies in that deal have contracts that will expire no later than 2010.

That freedom will allow the team to pursue a big-name free agent or two to supplement a rising young core group of Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Corey Brewer and Rashad McCants.

As a secondary prize on the court in the Philly deal, Carney will give them an athletic swingman who averaged 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in his second season out of Memphis. Booth, if he stays, will give the team a little more depth at center behind Jefferson and Collins.