Marc Stein, ESPN Senior Writer 13y

Sources: Sixers, Clippers discuss trade

NBA, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers

Amid increasing signals that the Philadelphia 76ers are finally prepared to deal Andre Iguodala after years of trade speculation, another potential swap has surfaced that would send the swingman to the Los Angeles Clippers for center Chris Kaman, sources with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN.com.

Although it's believed that the trade has not yet advanced past the discussion phase, sources told ESPN.com that the teams have discussed an Iguodala-for-Kaman swap.

The Clippers have long maintained that the only scenario that would convince them to part with Kaman -- whose career has been plagued by injuries but who had an All-Star season in 2010 -- is getting an elite small forward in return.

Iguodala's athleticism and defensive skills would figure to mesh well alongside star power forward Blake Griffin and young center DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers are determined to keep Jordan over Kaman as their center of the future as Jordan heads for restricted free agency.

But one source briefed on the trade discussions said Wednesday night that -- while Iguodala undeniably likes the idea of playing alongside his Team USA teammate Griffin in L.A. -- the Clippers would likely have to sweeten their offer to get Philly to bite.

The Sixers, according to the source, are in the market for a new big man but covet an athletic big. After a lost season, Kaman must hush concerns around the league about his injury history and foot speed.

Yet it appears, no matter how far talks between the Sixers and Clippers go, that Philadelphia is determined to weigh various trade possibilities as it gauges the market for Iguodala. The Sixers and Golden State Warriors have likewise discussed a trade that would swap Iguodala for Monta Ellis.

Trade talk generally picks up leaguewide at this time every year, as the NBA draft approaches, but sources did stress Wednesdsay that the Sixers could well delay any trade until after the completion of the team's proposed sale from Comcast-Spectacor to a group headed by New York-based leveraged buyout specialist Joshua Harris, as reported Tuesday by ESPN.com's Henry Abbott.

In both cases -- Iguodala for Kaman or Iguodala for Ellis -- current salaries for the players involved are close enough that the swap could be made without adding additional players to the deal to satisfy current salary-cap requirements.

Iguodala and Kaman are both represented by agent Rob Pelinka.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher contributed to this report.

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