A deal that will give Philadelphia salary-cap room to sign Elton Brand or Josh Smith and brings the Wolves back potentially a fourth first-round pick (if all the stars align) next summer is expected to be finalized Wednesday, when the NBA’s nine-day moratorium on free-agent signings and trades ends.

Sixers prospect Rodney Carney and aged center Calvin Booth seem superfluous in a deal that gives the Wolves a first-round pick — top 15 protected in 2009, according to a Wolves source — that Utah sent to Philly last season in the Kyle Korver trade.

The hunch here is that the Wolves use some of their assets — they also could own Boston’s, Miami’s and their own first rounders next summer — and perhaps the expiring contracts of Booth and maybe Carney to swing another trade that could address, among other things, their need for point-guard depth. A team such as Memphis, trade partners with the Wolves just two weeks ago, has too many guards (Kyle Lowry?).

Looks like Wednesday will bring trade action but not necessarily any free-agent signings. Craig Smith’s agent said Tuesday he is hopeful to receive an offer sheet from another team by the end of the week that he can bring to the Wolves to match or not and Ryan Gomes’ agent expects talks with other teams to extend into next week. No word lately on Sebastian Telfair, whose agent has not returned phone calls.

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