Stephen A. Smith: Jettisoning Dalembert helps Sixers

Now that the NBA Finals have ended and we've watched Kobe Bryant coronated for the fifth time as a world champion, it's time to direct our focus at the 76ers - and some of the reasons we can only dream they'll be as successful as the Lakers some day.

Which brings us to Samuel Dalembert.

The Sixers traded their perennially subpar 6-foot-11 center to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. They did so to acquire center Spencer Hawes and forward Andres Nocioni. But if anyone thinks that there was more to this trade than simply getting rid of a mediocre center with a bloated view of himself, someone whose apathy and indifference were an emotional drain on the Sixers for years, I've got a Wall Street guy for you to trust.

Feel free to give him your money.

The Sixers certainly gave theirs to Dalembert, even during these hard economic times. So anything's plausible, wouldn't you say?

Put your hands together and give Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski a round of applause. Evidently, the man means what he says - now more than ever.

Upon ending the season an abysmal 27-55, mired in the kind of abyss that kills careers, Stefanski pulled himself off life support instead of waiting for Doug Collins to do it for him. He gave his coach a legitimate offensive center in Hawes, added toughness in Nocioni, and finally got rid of a center in Dalembert who spent half his time saying he wanted out of Philadelphia and the other half showing he meant every word with his play.

"It's no secret that Sammy wanted out of Philadelphia," Stefanski said on Friday. "He's said so through his agent since the day I arrived in town. We've tried to accommodate him for years, but his [15 percent] trade kicker was a huge impediment. As the years dwindled, it wasn't that much of a roadblock anymore. So there you have it."

Here's wishing the Kings good luck.

One reason they'll need it is because of that very trade kicker Stefanski referred to. It requires that each year Dalembert be paid 15 percent of his forthcoming salary within 30 days upon his arrival on top of the salary he's scheduled to earn that season.

For the record, Dalembert's problem is not that he couldn't play. At 6-11, he could run like a gazelle, block shots, rebound, and defend. But there's a reason he averaged 8.1 points and 9.6 rebounds in just 25 minutes per game last season: He isn't that good offensively.

Worse, everyone knows that except Dalembert.

So the result was constant sulking and whining by Dalembert about not wanting to be in Philadelphia. According to numerous team sources over the years, Dalembert's lack of offensive prowess was everyone's fault but his own.

It was Dalembert's reason for avoiding workouts, for not picking up a basketball for nearly entire off-seasons, for returning each fall with the same moderate offensive repertoire he had depressed Philadelphians with the previous spring. And worse, his negligence contaminated a chunk of the roster into adopting the same attitude, which explains most of the Sixers' problems.

"Look, Sammy's not a bad person. He just was never happy with being here," another Sixers source explained, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Ed had to make this move not just for [Collins] and Sammy himself but to send a message to the rest of this team that those old habits are officially dead. They will not be tolerated anymore.

"If we're moving forward as a franchise, you can't have someone clearly miserable, clearly giving a lackluster effort because he doesn't want to be here, being on your squad and making $13 million next season. It just sent the wrong message, and [Stefanski] knew it. That's why he did what he did. He had no choice."

We'll wait for another day to evaluate what the Sixers received in Hawes and Nocioni, but it doesn't make a difference at the moment.

When you rid yourself of excess emotional baggage, everything is a plus. It breeds hope in youngsters and encourages the veterans to get their act together.

We hear that Hawes is skilled around the basket and that he can shoot. We also hear that Nocioni is a welcome addition because he brings the toughness Collins wants.

And Dalembert is gone, just like he wanted.

"Step one," Stefanski said, describing the obvious.

Hey, you've got to start somewhere.