Dalembert traded to Kings

By Keith Pompey

The Samuel Dalembert era with the 76ers is over.

The Sixers traded the 6-foot-11 center to the Sacramento Kings for Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes. The deal, which was announced Thursday, is pending physicals.

Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski and coach Doug Collins will hold a press conference Friday.

"We are excited to add two players in Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni who will help us immediately and provide us with additional front-court depth," Stefanski said in a statement. "Spencer is a young seven-footer who will provide us with versatility at the center position, while Andres will provide us with a tough veteran presence."

Dalembert was selected with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft. The 6-foot-11 center averaged 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks during his eight seasons in Philadelphia.

"We are excited about the move," Dalembert's agent Marc Cornstein said Thursday of the trade. I think that Sacremento is going to be a great for Sammy. They play an uptempo style. I think coach [Paul Westphal] would be a really good coach influence for Sammy. And I think what his strengths are really what Sacramento needs."

His best season came during the 2007-08 season when he averaged 10.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

"I think Sammy's strenghts are really want Sacramento needs, a shot-blocking defensive presence, rebounding, running the floor," Cornstein said. "So I think he is going to be a great fit for that team."

Apparently, Kings president Geoff Petrie agrees.

"We're excited about the acquisition of Samuel Dalembert," the Delaware County native said in a statement. "He will certainly bring a defensive presence and increase our ability to defend around the basket with his rebounding, shot-blocking and athleticism.

"I think he'll add a very different look to our team defensively and we're really excited about having him."

But Dalembert never developed into the dominant force the Sixers hoped he could become. Added to that, Dalembert became unhappy with his role and asked for a trade last season.

The NBA's only Haitian-born player is scheduled to make 12.9 million next season, the final year of his contract. Dalembert also has a 15 percent trade kicker in his deal, which made it difficult for the Sixers to trade him.

"I can tell you that Sixers and Sacramento Kings have been talking about trading Sammy long before Tuesday night," Cornstein said.

In addition to pleasing Dalembert, the Sixers obtained an up-and-coming post player in Hawes and a physical combo forward in Nocioni.

Nocioni, a 6-7 and 225 pounder, averaged 8.5 points for Sacramento last season. The native of Argentina is averaging 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists during his six-year career with Sacramento and the Chicago Bulls. He does come with off-the-court baggage, serving a two-game suspension this past season after pleading no contest in California for drunking driving.

Hawes, a 7-foot-1 center, averaged 10 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season. He had a career-high 30 points to go with nine rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers on New Year's Day.

Hawes was the Kings' first-round draft pick and 10th overall choice in 2007 following one season at the University of Washington. He averages 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1 block for his career.

Hawes and Nocioni were both reportedly unhappy in Sacramento.