Tweet's true: Ivey heading back to Philly

On Saturday, Royal Ivey posted a Twitter message that said, "Going back to Philly!" Barring an unexpected fallout, this will be the case.

Ivey, who served as a backup guard last season for the 76ers and is a free agent, is finalizing a contract that would secure his return to the Sixers, according to multiple sources.

Ivey had said the Twitter message was meant to inform his Twitter followers that he was physically traveling back to Philadelphia, but the message was interpreted by some fans as an announcement of an accepted contract with the Sixers. Whether coincidence or something else, the message now appears to be true in both interpretations.

In mid-June, Ivey, a backup guard who averaged 3.0 points, opted out of the second year of his contract. He had been slated to make $959,111.

Instead, he became a free agent. But Ivey and his agent, Keith Glass, maintained from the beginning that Ivey would like to return to Philadelphia.

One source close to the Sixers indicated the team extended Ivey a formal offer last Friday and that the team expects Ivey to return. Another source said the deal should be completed by Wednesday or Thursday.

Ivey, known more as a defensive player, is entering his sixth NBA season; his career average is 3.8 points in 13.8 minutes a game.

This is the Sixers' first move in what has been a slow off-season that has included the departure of last season's starting point guard, Andre Miller, who signed with the Portland Trail Blazers less than two weeks ago.

When Ivey's deal becomes official, the Sixers will have 11 players under contract for 2008-09.