We can’t say enough about Kate Fagan and the job she is doing in covering your futile Philadelphia 76ers.

According to Kate, the future NBA executive of the year Ed Stefanski has passed on a deal that would have sent Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert to Houston for Chase Budinger and Tracy McGrady.

McGrady celebrates the fact that he is not headed to join the Philadelphia Bricklayers.

The key to the deal in our view would have been twofold. First, you shed Iguodala’s contract that pays him $56 million. Second, you get McGrady’s expiring $23 million contract.

Iguodala is a fine player who would be a great second option of a contending team. He can pass, rebound, dribble and dunk. His jumper is his biggest downfall. Iggy may even find himself on an All-Star team if he plays for a winner. However, the Sixers are paying him No. 1 type money and Iggy isn’t that.

Getting McGrady’s expiring deal is far from a cure all for the Sixers woes. They still won’t be able to use that money to sign key free agents since they still have money committed to Elton Brand. However, it would be a step in the right direction which is to start an overhaul of the Sixers roster. They may be one star player away from contending in a poor Eastern Conference. However, they don’t have that money to spend.

The chance to make a deal that would start the process of restructuring the roster is something we would have done in a New York minute.

In four days, Ed Steafanski will get a belated Valentine’s Day gift from Ed Snider. He’ll either get a box of Termini Brothers’ cannolis, or dozen dead roses with an impending pink slip. The choice is his.

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?

Since signing Elton Brand in his first offseason as the Sixers general manager, Ed Stefanski has done little right with Philly’s third best basketball team. (Villanova and Temple could both give the Sixers a run on the court these days.)

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.