Just a thought: Elton Brand

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't know if this has been suggested or not, but it's pretty obvious to all that Elton Brand's game just doesn't work with the Sixers. In fact, if they hadn't signed him, probably Mo Cheeks would still have his job (so there's an upside to the signing, I guess). Mightn't they be wishing they could go "backsies" (to quote a cartoon that suggested just this, for all of the Baron Davies, Corey Maggette and Elton Brand signings)? Might they not be tempted by LaFrentz's contract and a nice lively young Blazer who better fits their style of play (Outlaw?)

Elton Brand WOULD fit with our plodding style. Not sure what getting him would do to LaMarcus, though.

Thoughts?

 

[anonymous gambler]

i think we would have to give aldridge

 

[crowTrobot]

lets commit to 80 million in salary + probably 50 million in luxury tax for a player with 2 major injuries in the last 2 years who will probably be declining now, and who is zero threat from long range and plays with a style that would just clog the middle for LA/oden. i like it!!

 

[crowTrobot]

i think we would have to give aldridge

i seriously doubt it. at this point they would probably jump at something like raef + rudy or bayless.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He's too expensive to be a backup. He wouldn't want to be a backup and why would you want him to be one with his massive contract?

 

[handiman]

Too much of a Shareef type for my taste. Great characters, great stats, but struggle to prove they can positively impact the win column.

 

[B-Roy]

i seriously doubt it. at this point they would probably jump at something like raef + rudy or bayless.

You really think they'd give up on Brand THAT easily?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Too much of a Shareef type for my taste. Great characters, great stats, but struggle to prove they can positively impact the win column.

At least Brand has made the playoffs! A couple of years ago he was almost an MVP candidate. And he's bigger and tougher than Shareef, and can actually play defense.

 

[Denny Crane]

Philly needs some 3pt shooting. Their top three shooters from range are Iggy 29.9% on 2.9 attempts, Louis Williams 28.7%/2.6, and Young 36.3%/2.3. Makes it easy for teams to collapse around the lane.

I don't see he's a bad player or on the decline, really. He's just a terrible fit for that roster.

 

[crowTrobot]

You really think they'd give up on Brand THAT easily?

absolutely, that + roll-player filler. brand was a huge mistake for them and has
a crippling long-term contract.

 

[B-Roy]

absolutely, that + roll-player filler. brand was a huge mistake for them and has
a crippling long-term contract.

Do you actually believe that? How can you call someone a mistake after half a season?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Do you actually believe that? How can you call someone a mistake after half a season?

Sometimes it's that obvious. If they didn't give up on Brand they would have to give up on Iggy, who plays like an All-Star without him and like a scrub with him.

Other teams might offer more, though. I wonder if Houston would offer T-Mac.

 

[B-Roy]

Sometimes it's that obvious. If they didn't give up on Brand they would have to give up on Iggy, who plays like an All-Star without him and like a scrub with him.

Other teams might offer more, though. I wonder if Houston would offer T-Mac.

It's not obvious. Clearly Brand needs more than a couple games to gel, or they might need to alter the offense a bit. Either way, it's too early to tell. If they are still like this at the end of the year, then maybe questions need to be asked.

 

[BalancedMan]

I don't see them having interest in Outlaw. They have his younger clone in Thaddeus Young. Very similar types of players in my opinion.

But yeah, Brand hasn't been quite the same since the foot injury a year and a half ago. I'm not all tha tinterested in him, would rather spend money at SF if possible. I'll be content with a big man rotation of Oden/Aldridge/Pryz/Anyone. We need to shore up the swing positions since we seem to have a lot of talent but spread over too many players for the 2/3 spot.

 

[PapaG]

May as well have never traded Zach Randolph if you want Brand.

 

[BalancedMan]

May as well have never traded Zach Randolph is you want Brand.

To be fair Brand is a much better shotblocker.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

May as well have never traded Zach Randolph if you want Brand.

That's like saying Stephon Marbury is the same as Chauncey Billups.

 

[crowTrobot]

doesn't matter what brand can or can't do for us because there's no way in hell we would even consider for one second taking on his contract. moot.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I hate this place sometimes.

I like Elton Brand, but what is it about sports fans and their inability to use "big picture" thinking?

A) Prising Elton Brand away from Philly would likely require giving up at least LaMarcus and Raef Lafrentz, which would absolutely torpedo any kind of cap space when there are still much bigger question marks at other positions (point guard and small forward).

B) Elton Brand is/was a helluva power forward, but he operates in the same space that Greg Oden will theoretically be operating at in future seasons (presuming he develops into a credible threat on the low block). All you have to do is look at Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry in NY to see that there are pitfalls to having two low block scorers on the court at the same time ... they might work out, but there is no guarantee.

C) I truly believe that LMA is barely scratching the surface of his potential, he's basically played two seasons worth of games at this point in his career and has really shown incredible growth in his defensive awareness, showing an ability to guard all the way out to the perimeter, and when (if?) Greg's offensive game comes around LMA's high post oriented offensive game is going to be a pretty good match.

I get it that some people don't like LaMarcus' game because he's not a great rebounder and isn't a bruiser, but it blows me away that his game doesn't get more respect as a true 2 way player with an incredible range of versatility as only a third year guy that (as a big man) is just now coming into his own -- Imagine 'Sheed if he'd taken his talent a little more seriously and cut out the bullshit technicals and that's what I see in LaMarcus.

 

[hasoos]

A lot of people forget Brand is coming off of knee surgery. I don't know about you, but most big guys I don't expect a lot of them the first season back. Usually the explosivenss and confidence in it just isn't there yet.

If they do decide to dump Brand, they will do it looking to improve, yet really, move the fat salary off the books. We can help do that with Raef.