No Sac For Sam (At Least Not Now)
Samuel Dalembert, the 76ers' center, was in the middle of yet another trade discussion.
No Sac For Sam (At Least Not Now)
Make no mistake: The 76ers would like to trade Samuel Dalembert. And Dalembert is more than ready to go.
But the Sacramento-Boston-Sixers scenario that turned up earlier today on ESPN's web site wasn't a live issue this week, last week or even the week before. It's something that was discussed before the start of the NBA's regular season, according to a source familiar with the Sixers' situation. And while the contract numbers worked, at least one of the three teams didn't feel a need to follow through.
The Sixers would have acquired Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine from Boston, and Kenny Thomas from Sacramento. The Kings would have added Dalembert and J.R. Giddens from Boston. The Celtics would have landed Andres Nocioni from the Kings.
This is just the latest rumor to surface since February, when Dalembert asked to be traded and the Sixers said they would attempt to accommodate him. At the same time, Marc Cornstein, Dalembert's agent, has clearance from the Sixers to try and make something happen. One major stumbling block has been Dalembert's contract, which includes a 15 percent trade kicker of roughly $3.5 million; that kicker must be paid by the team acquiring him within 30 days of a deal.
''There have been a lot of talks, a lot of different scenarios,'' Cornstein told the Daily News. ''I don't think anything is imminent or happening. They're making calls, and are aware that I'm doing the same.''
The same source said a rumored offer of Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic from Charlotte for Dalembert had no legs. Bell and Radmanovic ended up in Golden State in a deal for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law. The reconfigured Bobcats play the Sixers tomorrow night in the Wachovia Center.
Ed Stefanski, the Sixers' president/general manager, was unavailable for comment.
Keep Sam. Trade Brand.— Poppys
Who wants Sam? - NOBODY— owlsrule- Trade him for a bag of balls. Sorry to say it, but A.I. right now is better than Lou Williams. Bring him back.— Zeke
- "They're making calls, and are aware that I'm doing the same." LOL, this is a joke, right? Why would the Sixers care a little bit about his agent making calls?— duffers
- work a trade with GSW for Monta Ellis— Guy Incognito
- Bringing A.I. back would put more peeps in the seats right now and they need that. Trade Dalembert, Sweet Lou and maybe Green. Then I may watch the Sixers more...well...maybe...— Prego614
- Please get rid of that waste. Yet another Sixer getting big money for nothing. It's called patience! If we are going to be bad, let's make it worth it by being well under the cap in a couple years. Stop over paying for under achieving talent. Are we still paying Chris Webber and Matt Geiger???— word
- please make this happen— GetRidofIguodola
- Trade Sam AND Brand.— Vituperator
- i'd love this trade but why would sac want sam?— CBent1
- The Sixers have been an also ran for years. Nothing changes----- if nothing changes!— wideout999
- No Sac For Sam might be the most true headline in the history of Philly.com.— JSaq
- Great! Trade Sammy and we really wont have any defense.— rayzoe
Comment removed.- The reality is that the Dalembert contract is not killing the Sixers. Next year is the last year of the contract which will make him a desirable trade commodity or, if the Sixers are patient, we can clear his salary off the books after next year. It's the BRAND contract that's a killer. This year plus three more of the "Phillymax" contract is absolutely horrible and probably means there is no chance the Sixers will be good for at least 4 seasons. I'm pulling for Ed but he really blew this one.— Vituperator
- Basic take here is that Sam is not worth $12 mill in expiring contracts to anyone. He is here to stay, at least until the final year of his deal. Ugh.— jmk1512
- Next year is not the last year of the deal, it has two more years after this one- we are stuck with the human foul machine through 2012. Please, please, please, make him go away.— KMG
- NO way anyone takes this dead weight from us. no body is that stupid or they would be working in the sixers front office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Snoddy
- Dalembert and Brand are totally untradeable contracts.— JonKap
- Dalembert has less heart than Derrick Coleman...maybe he can get MacCulloch foot or Geiger knee or something.— JSaq
- Just like it's time for Andy and Donovan to leave the Eagles it's time to unload Sammy and Brand from the Sixers, but it won't happen, nobody wants their contracts, just sayin'...— DJ
- Just like it's time for Andy and Donovan to leave the Eagles it's time to unload Sammy and Brand from the Sixers, but it won't happen, nobody wants their contracts, just sayin'...— DJ
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
