Sixers' team president Ed Stefanski is checking to see if there's something he can do to make the team better by Thursday's trade deadline. Stefanski said he's talked to every team, although nothing appears to be imminent.
Stefanski would like to acquire a perimeter shooter for a club that is ranked last in the league in three-point percentage (32.1). He also is aware that "everybody would like shooters and they're not abundant out there." The most popular name to be mentioned in trade rumors is Andre Miller, who is in the last year of a contract that's paying him $10 million this season. The veteran point guard is terrific at running an offense and finding open teammates, especially for easy baskets.
While Stefanski understands why Miller, who shot 2-for-10 in Tuesday's loss to the Pacers, is drawing plenty of attention, particularly from good teams, he insists he's not going to give away Miller and won't make a deal strictly for monetary reasons.
"Unless someone makes us a basketball offer -- meaning something on the court -- we will not make a trade," Stefanski said. "It has to make basketball sense. It's not financial."
Stefanski doesn't want to give up a promising young player like second-year pro Thaddeus Young or rookie Marreese Speights in a deal. To have a shot at an impact player, one of those two probably would need to be included.
PACERS 100, SIXERS 91: In the teams' earlier meeting in Indianapolis, the Sixers overcame a 26-point deficit to win, but they couldn't do it again after falling behind by 20 points. The Sixers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped, shot 2 of 15 on three-pointers and 38.5 percent overall.
The Sixers, who host the Nuggets on Wednesday night, allowed the Pacers to shoot 49.4 percent from the floor and have six players score in double-figures. Andre Iguodala (20 points, nine assists) and Lou Williams (17 points) led the Sixers.
