76ers' Stefanski still looking to make more deals

When it comes to last season's 76ers, one is down, and there could be more to go.

A day after trading Samuel Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings, Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski on Friday said that he will continue to aggressively look for deals.

"After you come off of a 27-win season, you got to be aggressive," Stefanski said. "We are going to keep looking to see if we can tweak this even more. Yeah, we have to be more active."

The team shipped the disgruntled Dalembert, a 6-foot-11 center, to the Kings for 7-1 center Spencer Hawes and 6-7 combo forward Andres Nocioni, both of whom lobbied to leave Sacramento.

Stefanski wouldn't name players he is willing to part with or positions he wants to upgrade through a trade.

"I don't know what positions or big needs [need attention], but we will just see the players that we have and what we can get back for them if it makes us better," Stefanski said. "We are not going to make a trade for the sake of making a trade. Yesterday, we made a trade that made basketball sense to us."

The Sixers concede they lost a rebounding and shot-blocking presence by trading Dalembert.

However, new Sixers coach Doug Collins said the trade changed for the positive the team dynamic for Elton Brand.

"I was thinking I had to play Elton Brand strictly as a five [center], because I just didn't think he and Sam played well together," Collins said. "Now, I feel Elton can play with Hawes. I think he can play with [Marresse] Speights. So it changes the dynamics of that."

Collins added that the trade gives the Sixers the bigger lineup that he's more comfortable with.

In Hawes, the Sixers said they have one of the league's up-and-coming centers. He's averaging 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1 block per game since being drafted after one season at the University of Washington by the Kings on the first round in 2007, 10th overall.

"He's a young player that can shoot the ball," Collins said. "We feel like we can throw the ball in the post and cut off of him. He's a very good passer.

"Obviously, when you lose Sam, you lose defense and rebounding. But you get a couple of other pieces, and we feel good about that."

The Sixers also feel good about adding Nocioni. The Argentine is the kind of tough, hard-nosed player that Collins likes.

"One of the things I've talked about is adding toughness," the coach said. "And Nocioni is one of the toughest guys in the league, which I think is going to help us."

In six seasons with Sacramento and the Chicago Bulls, he has averaged 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game.

"The city of Philadelphia is going to like Nocioni because he puts it on the floor every night," Stefanski said. "He is [good] defensively."

But there are also red flags associated with acquiring Nocioni and Hawes.

Hawes could never establish himself as a full-time starter during his tenure in Sacramento. In addition to always having his toughness questioned, he fell out of favor with Kings coach Paul Westphal at one point last season.

After being traded by the Bulls in February 2009, Nocioni also never established himself as a starter. He also comes with off-the-court baggage, serving a two-game suspension last season after pleading no contest in California for drunk driving.

And both players didn't hide the fact that they wanted out of Sacramento.

That's doesn't bother Stefanski.

"Two lobby to get out where they were, and one guy [Dalembert] lobbied to get out of Philadelphia," he said. "I think it's a toss-up."

Iverson back? Former Sixer all-star Allen Iverson is planning to return to the NBA next season, according to his personal manager, Gary Moore. The Sixers have no interest in signing the free agent, the team said.