The 1995–96 NBA season was the 76ers 47th season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season in Philadelphia. The Sixers had the third overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected Jerry Stackhouse from the University of North Carolina. During the offseason, the team signed free agents Vernon Maxwell and Richard Dumas, then later on signed second-year guard Trevor Ruffin in December. Stackhouse and Clarence Weatherspoon both provided a nice young nucleus from which to build. However, finding talent to surround them was often difficult, as the Sixers suffered an 11-game losing streak after a 2–2 start. Early into the season, Shawn Bradley was traded to the New Jersey Nets for Derrick Coleman, who only played in just eleven games due to an irregular heartbeat. At midseason, second-year forward Sharone Wright was dealt to the expansion Toronto Raptors for Tony Massenburg and Ed Pinckney, while Jeff Malone was released to free agency, and later signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat.