THE WORD from Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski through the media relations department was that nothing is imminent.
And maybe that's a good thing.
With the NBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. today, the Sixers are one of those stuck-in-the-middle teams that probably shouldn't do anything.
They aren't really buyers because, outside of an unforeseen blockbuster for an All-Star-level player, there isn't much they can add that would take them to the next level in the Eastern Conference.
After last night's 101-89 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Sixers are 27-26. They would be the seventh seed if the playoffs started today.
The Sixers have 17 fewer victories than the Boston Celtics, 14 fewer than the Cleveland Cavaliers and 12 fewer than the Orlando Magic.
Other than Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Shaquille O'Neal in their primes, I can't think of a player the Sixers could acquire who could move them into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.
I'm sure the Sixers would find no shortage of takers if they were to offer young players like Thaddeus Young or Marreese Speights for more seasoned players.
What would that accomplish, however?
It's possible that a player could allow the Sixers to make a run at the fifth or fourth seed in playoffs, but you don't give up developing talent like Young or Speights just so you can improve your chances of winning a first-round playoff series.
If you won't be able to challenge Boston, Cleveland or Orlando for the conference championship, you're making a move just to make a move.
But the Sixers aren't sellers either.
A year ago, the plan going into this season likely was to use the expiring contract of point guard Andre Miller as a chip at the trade deadline.
A year ago, the landscape around the Sixers was a lot different, the view was more on long-range goals.
Things changed.
First, the Sixers made the playoffs, which stepped up the rebuilding process and prompted the Sixers to spend nearly $200 million to acquire free-agent Elton Brand, and retain Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams.
And even with the injured Brand playing just 29 games, the Sixers have positioned themselves to make a playoff run.
Miller is the glue that has held this thing together.
Were Stefanski to move Miller, it would be devastating to the psyche of a team with a core group that is mostly under 25 years of age.
