PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25 (AP) -- The Charlotte Hornets traded forward Derrick Coleman to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday in a three-team trade involving the Golden State Warriors.

The Hornets get forwards George Lynch, Robert Traylor and Jerome Moiso from Philadelphia and forward Chris Porter from Golden State. Charlotte waived Porter on Friday.

Coleman
When healthy, Coleman displays skills that few big men possess.
Scott Cunningham/NBAE Photos
The Warriors get forward Cedric Henderson and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2005 from Philadelphia, as well as cash from Charlotte. The Sixers also get guard Vonteego Cummings and forward Corie Blount from Golden State.

Coleman did not practice with the Hornets on Thursday morning.

The deal sends Coleman back to Philadelphia, where he spent three seasons before signing a five-year deal with the Hornets in 1998. He has two years left on that deal.

In 34 games last season, Coleman averaged 8.1 points -- less than half his 17.9 career average. He also shot 38 percent from the field and averaged 5.4 rebounds, both lows for his 12-year career.

A former No. 1 overall pick, Coleman was scheduled to be the Hornets' sixth man, playing behind Elden Campbell and P.J. Brown.

He had seemed unwilling to accept that role, saying the day training camp opened that "I ain't never been nothing but a starter."

The Sixers, meanwhile, were desperate for scoring after a multitude of injuries. Allen Iverson, Eric Snow and Aaron McKie are all out.

Sixers coach Larry Brown was optimistic about the trade.

"My last 35 to 40 games with Derrick were pretty good," he said, referring to the 1997-98 season. "He was probably our most popular player in the locker room. We have a group around him that will make him feel comfortable. I expect a lot from him."

Billy King, the Sixers' general manager, had the future in mind.

"People keep referring to the past," said King. "We can't say this will happen. This team is different now. I can't comment on what happened in Charlotte. It didn't happen here."

For the Warriors, the trade thins a crowded roster and practically assures that all three of their well-regarded rookies -- Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy and Gilbert Arenas -- will play important roles this season.

Cummings struggled last year as Mookie Blaylock's backup, but he has one guaranteed year left on his contract. With Blaylock, Arenas and Larry Hughes, who's expected to play at the point this season, the Warriors didn't need another point guard.

Cummings and Blount, a journeyman forward acquired from Phoenix last spring, both likely would have been cut before the season opener. Golden State's only significant loss is Porter, who had a surprisingly strong rookie season but was arrested in Alabama on drug possession charges in August.

With the recent additions of Henderson and center Marc Jackson, the Warriors have just 14 players in camp.