When a report emerged the 76ers were interested in adding Elton Brand and Shane Battier, the first question was: As players?
Apparently, yes – at least for Brand.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
The Philadelphia 76ers plan to sign veteran forward Elton Brand today, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 4, 2016
This is the second major move of the Jerry Colangelo era. The first, trading for Ish Smith, came at the relatively high price of two second-round picks. Signing Brand shouldn’t be as costly, but it’ll still require the 76ers to burn an asset. They have a full roster of 15 players, so they could waive a young player or Carl Landry, which would require tying up $6.5 million in future cap space (either all next season or spread over three years).
The 36-year-old Brand announced his semi-retirement last summer, leaving the door open for a return. He should provide a positive influence in the locker rom for a team that believes it needs veteran voices. He could also be reasonably productive in limited minutes for a team that believes it needs to win more now.
Best-case scenario, Brand helps young players like Jahlil Okafor develop winning habits. Worst-case scenario, the 76ers miss an opportunity at a young player who develops because they used a roster space on Brand.
This is Brand’s second go-round in Philadelphia. The 76ers signed him to a five-year, nearly $80 million contract in 2008. That ended with them amnestying him.
The stakes aren’t nearly as high this time, but there’s still a little risk – and some upside – in bringing him aboard.
Mostly – like the Smith trade – this signals a changing of the process in Philadelphia.
If you’re a Comcast subscriber in Philadelphia, you can stream tonight’s 76ers-Timberwolves game here.