76ers' Royal Ivey declines option

76ers reserve guard Royal Ivey yesterday declined the player option on his contract for the 2009-10 season, joining point guard Andre Miller as an unrestricted free agent.

Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski announced Ivey's decision in a news release but did not respond to a request for further comment.

Ivey's agent, Keith Glass, did not immediately return calls.

Ivey's decision means both he and Miller can sign with any team when NBA free agency begins July 1.

Stefanski has said the team would attempt to re-sign Miller but would have no indication of the team's chances until the opening of free agency.

The 6-foot-4 Ivey appeared in 71 games off the bench for the Sixers last season, averaging 3.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game.

For the season, Ivey had 36 steals to just 23 turnovers, posting the sixth-highest steal-to-turnover ratio (1.57) of any player in the league.

Ivey signed with the Sixers on July 28, 2008.

Stefanski has already said the Sixers would likely select a guard with the 17th pick of the June 25 NBA draft.