At first, visions of salary cap flexibility dashed vanished and the Sixers deal to send underachieving center Samuel Dalbert to the Sacremento kings for Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni didn’t look to benefit the Sixers currently or in the future. Dalmebert had one thing going for him — a $12-million-plus expiring contract at the end of next season.

Spencer Hawes appears to be the key to the Samuel Dalembert trade. His six rebounds a game are far from eye-popping stats for a starting center.

Granted, the King James-Bosh-Wade Derby will be long gone by then. However, it’s still better to have cash available to add a veteran to what promises to remain a young nucleus next summer.

When breaking down the deal, we see the cap flexibility for next season and beyond sail away.

Hawes, a 7-1 center, is owed $2.3 million this year with a $2.9 million team option next year. If he steps in a plays well, great. If not, Ed Stefanski or his replacement can say good by to him.

Nocioni, however, will strip the team of cap flexibility. The 6-7 forward is owed $7.5 million, $6.85 million and $6.65 million the next three years, respectively. That’s roughly $21 million in guaranteed money. He better be a contributor for that price. In any event, the Sixers aren’t on the hook for Dalembert’s $12 million this year.

The Argentina native averages 11.3 points and four boards per game. He’s never started more than 43 games in his career, and barely cracked the Kings starting rotation last year. He appears to be nothing more than a role player off the bench. Umm, couldn’t the Sixers have spent the money more wisely next offseason?

Hawes appears to be the key to this deal, and he better pan out or Stefanski will have even more ‘splainin’ to do than he already does with the way he’s constructed the roster.

The Kings starting center last year, Hawes averaged six boards, 10 points and 1.2 blocks a night. A 7-1 starting center with six boards in 26 minutes an outing? He should get those number by accident.

Admittedly, we haven;t watched him play much. But, the numbers don’t do much to enhance our confidence that this guy can play. Say what you want about Dalembert, but at least he had athletic ability and was capable of having some decent stretches of games.

That’s not to say we’d still want Dalembert here. Trade him if you wanted to, Stefanski, but to lose $12 million in cap room next year for Hawes and Nocioni? We don’t get it. But, that;s why we don’t make the decisions. The Sixers team execs obviously know something we don’t. Now, Hawes and Nocioni have to show us what that something is.

Among the items we found interesting from Doug Collins’ whirlwind media tour today was the following tidbit from the Inquirer’s Kate Fagain.

“…I’ll tell you what we’re also lacking: toughness, both mental and physical,” Collins said. “I think you can develop it, but it also helps to have a couple of tough guys on your team.”

Reggie Evans wasn't scared to bang inside with the Dwight Howards of the NBA. The Sixers need someone to fill that role.

I couldn’t agree more. When the Sixers dealt Reggie Evans for Jason Kapono, they lost a physical presence that even Dwight Howard had to notice.

In theory, dealing a role player off the bench from an area of perceived depth for a three-point shooter made sense. However, the team dealt the wrong guy.

Evans was never going to average a double-double. However, he boxed out, grabbed boards and wasn’t scared to throw an occasional elbow.

That’s precisely the toughness the team lacked last year, and what Collins alluded to.

Where will Ed Stefanski and Collins find a guy like Evans? Not sure, but they better figure it out because Mareese Speights and Jason Smith aren’t those guys.

Phil Jasner and Bob Cooney are reporting that Stefanski is set to grant second interviews to Doug Collins, Avery Johnson and possibly Sam Mitchell as the team moves forward in its pursuit of a successor for legendary coach Eddie Jordan.

The fiery Avery Johnson is on the short list of candidates expected to get a second interview from the Sixers.

The story says the powers that be made the decision on the second round of interviews before watching the Flyers spank the Canadians on Sunday night.

The fact that Stefanski is going to conduct a second round of interviews strongly suggests his job is safe, even if Lukko and Snider won’t say it. Why would you waste the time of serious candidates if the person making the decision is not part of the process.

The team is not going to let one guy hire a coach, and then stick the next GM with said coach. Especially not when you’re still paying Eddie Jordan for the next two years.

The coaching hire will be Stefanski’s decision. He better get it right this time, or he will surely be shown the door by this time next year.

Eddie Jordan is finished as head coach of the Sixers by Friday. This much we know.

The fate of General Manager Ed Stefanski is still up in the air. Or is it?

Speculation and rumors are all over the place, and I have no issues adding to it. During the second quarter of tonight’s game on Comcast SportsNet, a member of the Sixers front office joined the broadcast to discuss the upcoming summer and the moves the team may make to get better.

Only problem is, your GM wasn’t the spokesman. Instead, it was assistant general manager Tony DiLeo. You remember him, right? The guy who replaced Mo Cheeks last year, only to be relieved of his duties in favor of Jordan.

Tony DiLeo points ed Stefanski toward the unemployment line.

Say what you want, but at least DiLeo took this team to the playoffs.

OK, so how does this all relate to Stefanski?

DiLeo has basically been in hiding most of the year, presumably embarrassed about the end of his coaching reign. Now, all of a sudden, he’s being put back in front of cameras?

Meanwhile, the supposed GM is nowhere to be found and hasn’t been heard from since the trade deadline?

Looks fishy to me. DiLeo is a company man and has been here long before either Eddie joined the franchise. Ed Snider undoubtedly has some loyalty to DiLeo. Plus, DiLeo worked well with Larry Brown, who may be on the Sixers radar after the season.

Bottom line is this could be just one more sign that Stefanski is getting canned and already knows his fate. Otherwise, wouldn’t he want to be out there fielding questions in an attempt to put his spin on the team’s future and salvage some credibility with the fan base?

Stefanski hiding on Fan Appreciation Night is almost as bad as the Allen Iverson-Chris Webber debacle a few years back.

For Stefanski’s sake, we hope he doesn’t live in New Jersey so he’s not stuck in a huge unemployment line with the state’s teachers thanks to Gov. Chris Christie.

The publication printed the following excerpt from a league scout:

“They are having dunk contests before games; they are running plays sloppily or not all the way through; and they aren’t listening to Eddie Jordan. They have quit. They know Eddie is gone and they think they don’t have to listen anymore. The thing is, they are making themselves look like assholes. These guys think that just because Eddie is gone they will be back (next year). But nobody wants guys who give up when things go bad. Eddie’s offense was a bad fit for this roster – they have to find a way to play more up-tempo – but these guys are embarrassing themselves. And everyone around the league knows it.”

Elton Brand warming up for a recent game.

While we’d love to say that this information is nothing new and meaningless, the fact is it does have an impact on the team’s future. When trying to build a championship team — or even a halfway respectable one — you don’t want players who quit on your team. The fact that the Sixers have quit and not even tried to hide it, is bad.

First, you’re going to need a coach wiling to come in and deal with these malcontents. Good luck finding a proven winner who wants to deal with this disaster.

Second, to improve the team, you need to move the trash to another team. Well, the value of each player just dropped that much further. The team should have moved Iguodala when it had the chance.

But, I guess that’s the next GM’s problem since Ed Stefanski will likely be car pooling to the unemployment office with Eddie Jordan this summer.

And, Stefanski knows it.

They say silence speaks volumes, and who has heard from Fast Eddie recently? Rumors flew two days ago in The Inquirer that his hand-picked coach Eddie Jordan was on his way out. However, where was Stefanski in issuing the obligatory denial?

The next time you see these two clowns together better be in the unemployment line.

Comcast-Spectacor head Peter Lukko was left to address the rumors by telling everyone a decision had not been made on Jordan yet. Yeah, and Philly didn’t get much snow this winter.

Has anyone heard from the GM on this issue in the last week? The only reason why Stefanski would go into hiding is because he knows he F’ed up this once proud franchise. He took the pile of crap Billy King left behind and let it fester until only flies and maggots were left to chew on the remains.

This season will not end quick enough in front of the virtually empty Wachovia Center.

Maybe now the Crazy Eddies will get the delusional thoughts out of their heads. If Ed Stefanski and Eddie Jordan don’t realize that this Sixers team is not headed to the playoffs after tonight’s pathetic, apathetic 105-78 ass-whooping at the hands of the Miami Heat, then both should be sent to Loser’s Anonymous tomorrow.

The Heat aren’t even a good team and are clinging to the eighth seed in the East. A pitiful Eastern Conference at that, All-Star victories aside.

The Sixers need to move at least one of these clowns.

Before the All-Star break, the 76ers had rattled off a five game win streak prior to losing to the Toronto Raptors last week. All that did was allow Crazy Eddie Inc. to put out propaganda indicating the Sixers would be throwing block parties at the Wachovia Center this spring.

These guys couldn’t sell a bottle of water on the beach in the summer, let alone ice to the Eskimos or playoff tickets to Sixers fans.

If tonight’s embarrassment isn’t enough to convince Stefanski to shake up the team and start the process of tearing what he has apart, then nothing will.

For Stefanski’s job and all of Sixersville, the team better pull the trigger on a deal for Amar’e Stoudemire. Otherwise, Crazy Eddie has two days left until we really rip him apart.

Oh, and while our opinion may not count much, we have a feeling Ed Snider’s does. Snider doesn’t stand for continuing to do the same thing when a team consistently treats fans to the art of pitiful performances.

To put it simply, Stefanski is nearing Ed Wade status as the NBA trade deadline approaches. For years, Wade refused to make deadline deals that would have improved his club. Stefanski is doing the same thing.

While Wade didn’t make deals that could have helped the Phillies earn playoff spots, Stefanski is waving off deals that could help his team in the future. Expiring contracts are what the Sixers need so they can have a bit of cap flexibility.

Tracy McGrady may be the only commodity left for the Sixers to target.

Ama’re Stoudemire is thisclose to being dealt to Clevelenad. The Wizards shipped some of their better guns to the Mavericks. Tracy McGrady may be the best player for the Sixers to target at this point.

The point is that the trade market is quickly drying up, and the Sixers rumor mill has all but died out over the last week. That is not a good sign.

Cannolis or dead flowers? Which do you want, Eddie?

His chance to turn the tides like the weather pattern has turned this winter around ends next week. If, by Feb. 18, Stefanski hasn’t done something to alter the future of the Sixers, he doesn’t deserve his job at season’s end.

This is Stefanski’s El Nino.

Amare Stoudemire has been linked to the Sixers in trade rumors.

Andre Iguodala, once considered an untouchable, has regressed this season and will never be the clutch, sharpshooting player many have envisioned. He’s being thrown around in trade talks with Houston and Phoenix. Both deals could bring in expiring contracts at season’s end in the form of Tracy McGardy or Amare Stoudemire. Either way, the Sixers need to clear cap room and dealing Iggy may be the only way to do it.

More to the point, dealing Iggy and Samuel Dalembert to Houston makes too much sense to pass up. Dalembert’s contract has been untradeable, but it expires after next season. Suddenly, his contract has value, especially to a Rockets team that needs help in the paint with Yao Ming out for the season. Dalembert could fill that hole, then be shipped out of town next season.

McGrady, meanwhile, has played less than a complete game this entire season. Iggy could fill McGrady’s slot and add some spark to that squad, which sits at 27-23 and in the nine spot in the West. Iggy is no McGrady when the superstar is healthy, but something is better than nothing.

In today’s Inquirer, Kate Fagan discusses Stefanski’s meaningless words about making a deal if it makes “basketball sense.”

It's time to send Andre Igodala out of town.

Even if nothing presents itself in the case of Iguodala, Stafanski must make a move to clear some of these guys out of town. The Sixers have compiled a lot of young talent with POTENTIAL. The same guys who win championships for being under the salary cap win titles with potential.

The Boston Celtics tried to build a young nucleus and eventually gave up. Instead, they traded the young chips for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Together, with Paul Pierce, the cagy vets brought a title to Boston.

At this point, that is the model to follow. Trade Iggy for a Stoudemire and hope you can convince him to stay after this year (he holds an option for next season). If not, at least you’ve cleared some money to make a run at next year’s prized free agents.

And, if you can’t deal Iggy, then move a Thaddeus Young, or Lou Williams or even a Jrue Holiday if you can get value in return.

The only thing the Sixers can’t do is stand pat. Start to get pieces in place now so you can make a move next offseason.

The momentum for a deal is there. It’s up to Stefanski to jump on the jet stream and make it happen. Otherwise, he might as well just go bury himself in the snow because that’s where he’ll find himself after the season.

DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

In recent weeks, Sixertown has wondered how Eddie Jordan was keeping his job. In fact, general manager Ed Stefanski failed to give his coach a vote of confidence a couple weeks back. And, the Inquirer’s Kate Fagan took the coach to task for his lack of set rotations.

Two days later, in a poignant column, Fagan correctly laid blame at the coach’s feet in one of the best columns we’ve seen in a long time.

Eddie Jordan making another fine coaching decision.

In the wake of this mess, the coach may have lost some of his power, his confidence, or both.

Just one day after Stefanski proclaimed on 97.5 The Fanatic that Elton Brand — the GM’s prized free agent signing — had played himself back into the starting lineup, guess what? Brand replaced Thaddeus Young. This move clearly was made in response to the boss’ comments. While we can’t blame Jordan for taking directions from his superior and trying to save his job, the fact is he is not deciding who is on the floor these days.

If you want more evidence of this, read his quotes from before last night’s 92-81 win over the Dallas Mavericks. By starting Brand, he had to decide whether to sit Young, or move Andre Iguodala to shooting guard, thereby benching Lou Williams. In the end, he benched Young and Williams. He started rookie Jrue Holiday at the point. The question is: was there any thought of benching Allen Iverson to let both Holiday and Williams play? We were assured bringing in Iverson would not inhibit the growth of the young guys.

Apparently, the coach is too worried about what Iverson wants. Kate Fagan included the following in a story today:

“That’s another thought process: ‘What do you do?’ ” Jordan said. “When [Brand] was starting, Andre was a guard. Do you put Andre back at guard and keep Thad and Elton in or do you replace Thad with Elton? It’s always a thought process. We want Allen [Iverson] to start. Now, can Allen and Andre co-exist in the backcourt as starters? We’ll see. I don’t know if Allen wants to be a point guard to get it going.”

The last part is extremely frustrating. He’s worried about what AI wants. Your DailyPhiladelphian was in favor of bringing Iverson back to fill in for Williams as long as the young guys still grew. Now, Iverson is taking playing time away from the young guys.

It may seem trivial to bring this up after an impressive win against one of the league’s better teams. However, this is about the future of the franchise. Williams, the guy Jordan raved about earlier this year, is averaging 15 points and more than four assist per game. Iverson is averaging 14.5 points and four assists as a Sixers this year. The numbers are comparable.

Holiday is averaging 5.7 points and nearly three assists in about half the time. He also is a better defender than Williams or Iverson at this point. Getting Holiday in the lineup may be the right call. However, is sitting Williams for Iverson?

That’s something we hope Jordan is deciding and not the players. Of course, we also wonder if Jordan is just assuming what Iverson wants, or if he’s actually ever asked him.

Judging by his comments and actions, the coach isn’t running the ship.