The Philadelphia 76ers Are Brand New
By Bret Stuter
With the signing of Elton Brand, the Philadelphia 76ers have re-prioritized their approach. Mentoring Players got a huge boost.
If you look at the surface, the Philadelphia 76ers signing of 36 year old power forward Elton Brand is a public relations move, a “feel good” phenomenon of a player with a good reputation for his sportsmanship coming to a team with a bevy of young minds to mold and mentor. He joined the NBA in 2000, and has spent the past 15 years amassing a collection of stories, history, wisdom, and on-court savvy. You look at the signing of a veteran player, and you see signs of Jerry Colangelo.
Both Elton Brand and Jerry Colangelo want to give back something to the NBA. Vision, history, a sense of purpose, all have value to a young man looking to find his “fit” in a large organization, especially one with competition at every turn.
Brand was on the roster of the Atlanta Hawks in 2014-2015, where he appeared in 36 games while averaging 2.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 13.5 minutes per game. His numbers will likely be no more than that for the Sixers. Curiously, the Sixers did have Jason Richardson last season, who spent the last few years of his career on the Sixers. When I made note in a recent article about the retirement of Jason Richardson, I was clear that the team would have benefited this year with his presence on the roster:
"While it’s clear that the time had come for Richardson to walk away from the game, his production and work ethic would have been a true bonus to the Sixers this season. A no-nonsense guy, his dunks will be the aspect of his game that will be most remembered. But Richardson’s professionalism was always the constant and dependable aspect of his career. From the basketball court to interviews, it’s almost impossible to hear a negative word from anyone who spent time around the guy. Richardson adapted his game to new circumstances and always came out more respected than before."
But Elton Brand on the team is just a tip of the iceberg. Let’s discuss further.
Next: Roster Makeover