3. The Big Guy likes him
While players may not sign with a team because of the general manager, they sure do leave because of their actions.
Looking at the recent NBA landscape, you have had many big names (Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony) leave teams they were the face of because, right or wrong. they did not like the direction it was taking or could not get along with the GM.
Going way back in history, Wilt Chamberlain demanded to be traded from the 76ers after a dispute with ownership and was sent to the Lakers in 1968.
So, the GM’s first job is to keep the big guy on their team happy. On the current 76ers team, that means Joel Embiid. Good news: He’s happy.
Congrats EB.. Trust It https://t.co/OBhwkENXsC
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 18, 2018
Remember that Brand played for the 76ers in that awful 2015-16 season. He actually was a teammate to Embiid (although he did not play due to the broken foot) as well as current players T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington.
Embiid knows Brand, and vice versa. The general rule is, if the top player is in sync with management, the rest of the players fall in line.
None of this works unless Embiid is on board, and so far he is.