Brown: Iverson Must Change

Coach Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers made it clear Thursday that star guard Allen Iverson must follow team rules.

“I wonder what your relationship would be with any employee you might have if he doesn’t choose to come to work on time, doesn’t choose to come to work at all, doesn’t choose to do the things everybody else in the organization does, and then says he’s upset with the way he’s being treated,” Brown said.

“If he wants to be on time to practice, and practice on a daily basis, and follow the rules all the other players follow, then he’s not going to have a problem with me. But if it continues to be a situation where he’s late, doesn’t practice, doesn’t do the things other players do, then it’s going to be a problem.”

Brown, in Philadelphia for the 76ers’ annual pre-summer rookie and veteran’s camp beginning today at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, said Iverson was not a factor in his decision not to pursue the North Carolina job.

As for Iverson’s recent statement that he’s finally come to realize he must change, Brown said he remains unconvinced.

“I remember, the end of last season, we talked about things Allen needed to do--and it didn’t change,” Brown said. “I had the same conversation after this season. So we’ll see. If he’s going to do things right, well, then, he’ll be here. If he shows he can, he’ll be a big part of this team.”

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DerMarr Johnson, the former Cincinnati player selected sixth overall in the NBA draft, signed with the Atlanta Hawks.

Under the NBA’s rookie salary scale, Johnson will receive within 20% of about $5.65 million over three seasons.

Johnson, a 6-foot-9 shooting guard who can also play small forward, averaged 12.6 points at Cincinnati.

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Chris Mihm, a former Texas center selected seventh in the draft, signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 7-0 Mihm, who left Texas after his junior year, was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, then traded to the Cavaliers minutes later for No. 8 pick Jamal Crawford and an unspecified amount of cash.

Under the rookie salary scale, Mihm will receive within 20% of about $5.17 million over three seasons.

Mihm averaged 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for the Longhorns.

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The Toronto Raptors hired Stan Albeck, Jim Brewer and Craig Neal as assistants under new Coach Lenny Wilkens, the team said.

Wilkens, who has more victories than any coach in NBA history, replaced the fired Butch Carter last month. Wilkens retained assistant Brian James, who has been with the Raptors for the last two seasons.

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The 76ers signed guard Craig Claxton and swingman Mark Karcher to contracts.

The 5-11 Claxton was a four-year starter at Hofstra University and was the 20th overall selection in the first round of the NBA draft.

The 6-5 Karcher, selected 48th overall by the Sixers in the second round of the draft, led Temple in scoring as a junior with 15.8 points a game.