The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of hype heading into next season, but Elton Brand decided to pump the breaks a bit on Wednesday night.
Things are looking up for the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid is trending towards full health, while the last two No. 1 picks in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are both set to debut this October. Throw in the addition of J.J. Redick, and it’s easy to get excited about the team’s prospects moving forward.
New Delaware 87ers GM (and former Sixers stud) Elton Brand isn’t necessarily buying into all the hype, though. Brand, who was elevated to his new position just days ago, appeared on ESPN’s The Six to talk Ben Simmons and the Sixers’ expectations on Wednesday night.
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Here’s the rundown of his most notable comments:
"“It’s gonna be a slower build [than most people think].”"
One of the first comments Brand had was on just how quickly the Sixers will find success next season. When asked about how he likes their chances of making the playoffs, he cautioned that the team’s rise to success wouldn’t be a rapid as some have predicted. He pointed out their tough schedule early on, while also noting the difficulties that come with two young ball handlers at the beginning of their NBA careers.
Michael Smith, who’s one of the show’s hosts, had previously interjected with a rather optimistic win projection for next season: 50.
Brand is more than warranted in his stance. I’ve always been high on the transferability of both Fultz’s and Simmons’ games at the next level, but that doesn’t mean growing pains aren’t to be expected.
Fultz will also be adjusting a role that differs quite a bit from his role at Washington. He’ll handle the ball a sizable amount, but will also be asked to play off the ball, gunning around screens and working his way through Brett Brown’s offensive labyrinth — something that will, yet again, cause some growing pains.
Brand would later emphasize the importance of giving the rookies time to mesh, utilizing a personal anecdote in the process.
He mentioned the Chicago Bulls team he was drafted to in 1999 and stayed with through two seasons. With Ron Artest, Jamal Crawford and Brad Miller joining him, their young core was impressive, but they never had the chance to mesh and grow as a unit. Brand was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2001-02 season, while both Artest and Miller were traded later that season.
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"“We didn’t get to gel, we didn’t get that time to gel…”"
That highlights the importance of keeping the Sixers’ core together, which speaks to why financial flexibility was such a significant part of Bryan Colangelo’s plans this offseason. They were willing to shell out $23 million for Redick’s services, but did so on a one-year deal — allowing them to move on if his demands don’t lower next offseason.
Brand also touched on Ben Simmons and just how special he may become.
"“He’s definitely going to be special. I don’t want to put those expectations on him now, but he’s definitely going to be special."
The middle portion of that statement is worth noting. Giving Simmons unearthly expectations only increases the potential for disappointment. He’s still a 21-year-old ball handler who has never played a minute of professional basketball, and expecting him to shoot into the league’s elite from day one is as unreasonable as it is detrimental to his perception.
With that said, Simmons does have a special skill set — and there’s a reason he was so highly touted as the No. 1 prospect back in 2016. It’s rare that we see a player with his combination of physical gifts and basketball I.Q., and he’s somebody who’s capable of putting things together far quicker than most rookies can. When you factor in a year’s worth of work under an NBA training staff, it’s understandable to have some serious optimism moving forward.
Brand was also asked about his advice for Simmons and Fultz moving forward, which boiled down to a fairly straightforward response:
"“Just take it day by day. Don’t get too high if you’re doing well, don’t get too low if you’re doing bad… It’s a long season.”"
There’s not too much to unpack here. The 82-game campaign is like nothing either of these rooks have experienced before, which means there are going to be things they simply aren’t used to. Remaining focused despite the highs and lows over short periods of time can help lead to more sustained success, something last year’s not-so-deserving Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon is an excellent example of.
Next: History is on Markelle Fultz's side
Brand went on to talk about his new role as 87ers GM, as well as whether or not he’d be interested in a role as NBA general manager somewhere down the line. You can view the full interview here.