Posted: Friday, February 20, 2009, 1:56 PM | 8 comments |
 

Slamming Sammy
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Maybe the 76ers organization wasn't slamming Sammy Dalembert, but general manager Ed Stefanski was definitely trying to get rid of him before Thursday's trade deadline, league sources confirmed to the Inquirer's Kate Fagan.

The team was unsuccessful -- no kidding -- but the attempt is an interesting look into how the front office views the current situation. There is no getting rid of Elton Brand and his contract any time soon, so he'll be back next season.

Rather than have two ponderous big men on the court a year from now, slowing things down and eating minutes better given to Thad Young, Marreese Speights and (possibly Jason Smith), the Sixers were looking to move past Dalembert. With Sam gone, Brand could play more at the center position, perhaps in the high post, which would give him a fighting chance to get back on defense.

They tried it the easy way. In the offseason, the Sixers might have to find a new home for Dalembert -- who has two more years and $25 million left on his contract -- the more difficult way. Either way, however, it seems the Sixers have made a decision about their future direction and it won't include Sammy.
Posted by BOB FORD @ 1:56 PM  Permalink | 8 comments
8
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:01 PM, 02/20/2009
    Sammy isn't going anywhere. No one is taking his contract in this economy without saddling you with at least as bad one and I have a hard time believing Stefanski would do that kind of deal. If you looked at the deals the Sixers were trying to make it was returning a similar type of player. A center. Sammy does have some value to this team. He is a good shot blocker and rebounder and when he plays well this is a totally different team. I also don't think Brand playing center for more then occassional minutes is realistic. They tried him for short stretches at center when he came back from the shoulder seperation and the results were pretty poor.
    — brannigan73
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:57 PM, 02/20/2009
    trade brand, he doesn't fit the sixers style of play. dalembert is a good shot blocker and he can at least run a little bit.
    — ConservativePatriot22
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:25 PM, 02/20/2009
    Thank you Bob for the positive news that Sammy is not part of our future. He has so much talent but just so inconsistent. He has cost us several games this year w/ his dumb playing (at times). Yes, he has talent but glad to hear that the sixers don't see him in the future. And, furthermore, I think it is completely ignorant to make a decision on Brand, yet. After next year, we will see. I predict Brand will become a valuable asset to this team.
    — dharner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:37 PM, 02/20/2009
    Just what the Sixers need...more reason for Sam to lose his focus and motivation!
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 AM, 02/21/2009
    conservatie, how are you going to trade Brand, who has an injury history and a much bigger, longer contract? At least next year Dalembert will only have a year left and some team will take him to free up cap space.
    — mike l
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:48 PM, 02/21/2009
    I'll trade Brand for some McDonalds cookies. They don't even have to be warm. I'll microwave them myself.
    — Bob Loblaw
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:34 AM, 02/23/2009
    Dalembert is a maroon.
    — rockinrob
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:12 PM, 02/23/2009
    Dalembert is a 'maroon'. Say what????
    — stoneman


8 comments
About Bob Ford
Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
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