[1] The 76ers had the second overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected Keith Van Horn from the University of Utah,[2][3][4][5][6] but soon traded him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Jim Jackson, Eric Montross, top draft pick Tim Thomas out of Villanova University, and first-round draft pick Anthony Parker out of Bradley University,[7][8][9][10] and signed free agent and former All-Star forward Terry Cummings during the off-season.
[11][12][13] In November, the team traded their second-round draft pick, Slovenian rookie forward Marko Milič, to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for former All-Star forward Tom Chambers; however, after only just one game for the 76ers, Chambers retired in December.
[14][15][16][17] Under new head coach Larry Brown,[18][19][20][21] the Sixers got off to a rough start losing their first five games.
[26] At mid-season, they traded Jackson along with Clarence Weatherspoon to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Joe Smith and Brian Shaw,[27][28][29][30] while Cummings was dealt to the New York Knicks in exchange for Herb Williams, who was released by the 76ers, and re-signed with the Knicks.
These three players blended well with coach Brown's philosophy, and this would be the last season in which the Sixers missed the postseason until 2004.