If the Sixers’ Andre Iguodala fell down alone in the woods, would he make a noise?  Would anybody care?

A week ago I felt like making a call..."Hello?  I’d like to report a missing team."

The Philadelphia Sixers have been missing in action of late.  But yesterday they quietly dispatched starting center Samuel Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings, and reminded everybody in this city that they are still operating a business.

You have to remember that the Sixers, compared to their major franchise counterparts in Philadelphia, have not exactly lit the world on fire in recent history.

These days, the Sixers have been only slightly more popular than BP, and a teeny more exciting than a scoreless World Cup soccer game.

But now they are Doug Collins’ problem.  Collins was hired a few weeks ago as the Sixers’ newest Head Coach. 

Collins really has very little to lose in this situation except maybe the rest of his hair.

 There’s really only one direction this Sixers team can go, and that’s up.

I can give you almost 13 million reasons why the Dalembert trade makes sense for this team.  That’s the amount of money Sammy is scheduled to make in the upcoming season.

The two players Philadelphia received in return don’t make nearly that much money, and may even contribute to the cause this year too. 

But this is definitely a deal that can be termed “addition by subtraction”.

It gives the Sixers a little more flexibility with their salary cap and opens up playing time for a younger and more promising player to develop.

That player could be Spencer Hawes (one of the players acquired in the deal).. 

The 7’ 1” Hawes was a first round pick three years ago who has produced three “average” seasons.  But the fact remains that if Hawes has stayed in school at the University of Washington, he’d just be graduating THIS year.

Andres Nocioni (the other player dealt to Philly) is not going to remind anybody of LeBron James, but he can be a useful and versatile veteran player that may fit into any new “system” that Coach Collins creates.

This leads us to the NBA draft…where the Sixers hold the second pick overall.

Once the Wizards (are they still called the Wizards?..Why?) take John Wall of Kentucky with the first pick it will be the Sixers turn to spin the wheel… Or should I say, the bullet chamber?

Evan Turner of Ohio St. seems to be the obvious pick.  He’s a 6’7” “2-guard” who can be a very proficient scorer.  Which is something the Sixers have lacked with any consistency for the past several years.

There is talk that the moving of Dalembert may change the Sixers’ perspective on the draft and they may take a big man instead.  Popular opinion includes Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech as the most likely option.

If you ask me, should the Sixers decide to go “BIG” they MUST take Wall’s teammate DeMarcus Cousins (also of Kentucky).  Otherwise, Turner is the correct selection.

Cousins is extremely athletic and has the ability to dominate the frontcourt of the game.  Favors is a little bit more polished, but doesn’t have the “splash ability” that Cousins possesses.

Either way, the Sixers will get a very good player and will take another step in the right direction towards being recognized as a formidable sports franchise in this city again. 

The number two pick in the draft is almost a “can’t lose” proposition.  Or is it?

Then again, the Sixers have found ways to lose when it didn’t seem possible before. 

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Sixers training camp.  Yawn….stay tuned.