Bob Cooney: Time for Sixers to make a fresh start

DO IT, Ed. Just do it.

Pull up the lever from the big black box, and lower it fast and with all the strength you can muster and blow up the franchise.

The trade deadline is now 2 weeks away. General manager Ed Stefanski has to take a whole new approach than anticipated at this time, since his team has tumbled to a 17-31 record.

Before this season started, fans didn't expect to contend for a title. A top-four seeding in the Eastern Conference was probably a reach, too.

What was totally unexpected was this: a season of utter disappointment and a team totally void of any type of character.

So it's time, Ed. Time to implode. Have a fire sale like no other in franchise history. Ideally, and this is not breaking news, it would be great for the Sixers to get rid of any player and as much salary as they can, and take as little back as they can.

Let's talk about the money. No significant salaries come off the books after this season. Andre Iguodala, perhaps the most attractive name as rumors swirl about possible trades, is under contract for 4 more years after this, maxing out at just under $16 million for the 2013-14 season.

I've stated many times before that Iguodala is just not in the right role here. He is being asked to be the star of this team, when actually he would be better suited as a co-star, or even better, a third option on a team that has a couple of stars. Nothing against Iguodala, who continually puts up good numbers even if his on-court personality doesn't draw in fans, but get what you can for him and do it immediately. Dallas, Cleveland, Phoenix, whoever it is, get what you can and cut ties and, hopefully, take little salary back beyond this year.

This Sixers team needs to both come into money and not make the playoffs - maybe not be in playoff contention for a couple of years, to truly turn things around from what was stubborn mediocrity that has now turned into bad.

The team is on the hook to Elton Brand for 3 more years, averaging about $17 million a year. Despite his recent resurgence in play, in which he's looked close to the 20-10 player that all tagged him to be when he signed here in the summer of 2008, no one in the league is looking to take on his salary. He is here to stay.

The play of center Sam Dalembert has been good for the Sixers, as he's been piling up double-doubles faster than Toyota can make recalls. After this season, he is under contract for 1 more year at $12.2 million. This is an interesting call. Has he played well enough that teams might want to take a chance on grabbing him? Don't forget, any team that does take him also must pay him a 3 percent contract kicker. Can't see anyone going for that, so Sam stays - at least for the rest of this season.

When guard Lou Williams signed his 5-year, $25 million contract before last season, I thought it was a great move by the team, even if he remained the first sub off the bench for the entire contract. My thinking was that if he was coming off the bench, the team had an established point guard and was good enough to have a player of his caliber as a sub. He was named a starter before the season, but appears to be a better fit coming off the pine. He could have many suitors.

After a successful second-year last season, many thought forward Thaddeus Young was poised for a breakout season. It really hasn't happened. In fact, like most of the team, Young has taken a step backward. Much of the problem is that he is the same type of player as Iguodala, thus searching for his place while Iguodala logs many minutes. I'd like to see what he could do if given the freedom.

Allen Iverson? I hear people saying that contenders who need one more scorer or an insurance policy at guard might want to take a chance, but I don't see it. I think he finishes his career this year with the team.

Forward Marreese Speights has 3 years left after this at cheap money. He is a tremendous offensive talent and could garner some interest.

Other players and their salaries would be throw-ins to match salaries and complete trades. So what to do? That is what keeps Stefanski working the phone lines.

"We've been through the league more than once," said Stefanski of his trade talk with other teams. "We've talked to numerous teams. You never know until it gets closer to the deadline whether a deal is going to pop or not. But we are looking for value back. If we make a trade, we are looking to improve the basketball team, not just to get rid of players."

That's the real problem. Is there enough core here to build on? And who is it? It seems this team is filled with role players, and if you can't get a superstar or two quickly, they'll continue to be that.

Stefanski went on to say: "We feel we're underachieving. We have to get better, obviously. We've been competitive, but we're not getting over the top. Does a move have to happen? It will only happen if we feel it's going to improve the basketball team. If it's a move that is going to take a step backward, we're not going to do that."

Like many fans who watch and root, Stefanski is a competitive guy. Accepting losses will never be a way of life for him, nor should it. But this franchise needs to start from scratch.

"Do we want to trade Andre Iguodala? No," Stefanski said. "But will we talk if people want to talk about him? Sure. It's just like if we talk to another team about another player. It's the same way.

"Where we are right now sitting, we don't have a lot that I would say is hot, but it's still plenty of time even though it's still a little over 2 weeks away. Things could heat up."

Sixers fans have lost patience, and attendance has plummeted. Solution? Nothing is set in stone, obviously. But if there is a way to take a couple of seasons to clean the slate, then build up again, isn't it worth a shot?

Send e-mail to cooneyb@phillynews.com