"The wait is just about over. A league source has confirmed that the 76ers and their restricted free agent Andre Iguodala are very close to reaching an agreement that could be worth about $80 million over six years, according to a report on ESPN.com.

Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski had no comment.

It has been a busy summer for the Sixers and Stefanski, who previously signed three free agents and one restricted free agent in a little over a month.

Even so, the status of Iguodala, the Sixers' 6-foot-6 restricted free agent who led the team in scoring last season at 19.9 points per game, has been at the forefront of all team discussions.

Stefanski said repeatedly in the last five weeks that re-signing Iguodala was a "priority."

Making Iguodala a "priority" translated into what should be a contract worth nearly as much, albeit for a season less, as the blockbuster deal two-time all-star power forward Elton Brand signed with the team in early July for approximately $82 million over five years.

This deal will make Iguodala the 12th Sixer under contract for the season.

Last year, Iguodala rejected a five-year, $57 million contract extension offer from Sixers GM Billy King.

The Sixers have been filling in pieces this summer - first signing Brand, then free-agent guards Royal Ivey and Kareem Rush, and finally one of their own, restricted free agent Lou Williams.

In the week leading up to this potential agreement, it was reported that Iguodala and his agent were seeking a five-year deal worth about $70 million.

Critics of Iguodala had said such a contract would be too much for the guard-forward, who struggled in last season's six-game playoff loss to the Pistons. As the team's primary option, he averaged only 13.2 points and shot a dismal 14.3 percent from the three-point line.

With the addition of Brand, some wondered at the wisdom of paying a second, perhaps a third, option an above-market salary: No team extended Iguodala an offer sheet this summer.

Some even speculated that Iguodala would play this season for the Sixers' $3.8 million qualifying offer and roll the dice that he could perform well enough to up his stock for next summer's free-agent market, when he would be an unrestricted free agent.

At last week's news conference announcing Williams' new contract, Stefanski said signing quality people, as well as quality players, was paramount to the organization. Stefanski said Iguodala was one such player.

Signing Iguodala shores up what looks to be an impressive starting lineup this season with, potentially, Andre Miller at point guard, Iguodala at shooting guard, emerging star Thaddeus Young at small forward, Brand at power forward, and Samuel Dalembert at center.

Toss into the equation the pieces Stefanski has acquired and retained this off-season - first-round draft pick Marreese Speights, guards Ivey and Rush, and spark-plug Williams off the bench -