The 76ers entered the off-season armed with a $4.45 million trade exception, hoping it would help them obtain a player, preferably a tough-minded veteran who could provide a spark and get the team back into playoff contention.

However, as the expiration date of the trade exception arrives today, Sixers president and general manager Billy King is going to allow it to run out without using it. The team acquired the exception from the New Jersey Nets last August in exchange for Marc Jackson.

"There's nobody out there to use it on," King said yesterday. "There is no one out there that makes sense."

That goes double for the Sixers' midlevel exception of $5.215 million, which will be available throughout this season. "There's nobody out there to use that on, either," King said.