Philadelphia 76ers’ general manager (GM) Elton Brand won’t split star duo.
There are a lot of things that can be taken from Elton Brand‘s recent press conference. It’s clear that the Philadelphia 76ers’ GM will be leading the franchise moving forward as top decision making and one of those decisions involves the future of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
It’s well known within the NBA community that the two stars don’t naturally fit together. Simmons is a 6-foot-10 playmaker who refuses to take outside shots and Embiid is an old school center that thrives inside the paint but can stretch the floor if needed.
There are factions of fans and media members that have called for the two perennial All-Star to be split up because of their unnatural fit with each other. However, Brand made it clear that he has no intention of splitting the two up at this time despite the disappointing season from the franchise. Below is what Brand had to say, tip of the hat to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
"‘”I’m not looking to trade Ben or Joel…I’m looking to complement them better…They are 24 and 26 years old, respectively. You try to make that fit as long as you can. They want to be here, they want to be with our organization, and I see them here for a long, long time.”‘"
It’s the right call.
More from Sixers News
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden
This is the right move for the Sixers. It’s very unlikely that they would get equal value for either player in a trade.
Despite his unwillingness to shoot, Simmons is still the most versatile defender in the NBA, top five playmakers, and is deadly in a fastbreak. Embiid is the most dominant big man in the NBA. When focused and healthy, he’s an elite rim defender and post scorer.
Unless a team has an outrages trade package to offer for one of Philly’s stars, like the one I suggested for Embiid in the most recent episode of The Sixer Sense Podcast, then it doesn’t seem like the 76ers should even entertain the idea of trading either one of them away.
Brand is making the right choice by not entertaining the idea of trading away one of the Philadelphia 76ers superstars at this time.