Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand is More than a Veteran Presence

The Philadelphia 76ers signed former power forward Elton Brand, giving their youthful frontcourt contingency another veteran presence on the team with extensive an NBA background.

The Philadelphia 76ers added a familiar face Monday with the addition of former power forward Elton Brand, per Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania. Brand signed a five-year $79.8 million contract in 2008 with the Sixers, as one of the team’s most notable free agent moves in the millennium. The Duke product, however, never lived up to the hefty money Philadelphia paid him, with injury-riddled campaigns and inefficiency hindering his impact.

At 36 years old, the expectations for Brand are immensely lowered, as the veteran is expected to help with the growth of the franchise and its younger players.

With age becoming a major factor in Brand’s game, the two-time All-Star is declining in production, averaging a career-low 2.7 PPG and shooting a career-worst 44.2 percent from the floor in 2014-15.

"“Elton Brand can’t play anymore, but he’s a great guy,” one league executive said, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. “He’s a great locker room guy. He’s a true professional. He will be good for them.”"

The recent focus for the organization has been centered around bringing in older talent to materialize the core of the Sixers. Last month, reports surfaced of the team targeting both Chuck Hayes and John Lucas III, players who surpass the team’s aggregate age total by over 12 years. Brand encompasses what they’re role would have been-veteran-but brings an enticing caveat to the Sixers organization that few veterans can.

Brand was an intricate member of the team from 2008-2012 despite not playing up to what he was billed as. He averaged 11.0 PPG and 7.2 RPG en route to playing a part in the Sixers’ opening round shocker over the No. 1 seed Bulls in 2012 playoffs. He has postseason experience as a Sixer and also played for the same school as Jahlil Okafor.

Okafor’s became synonymous with off-court troubles in October and November, but garnered support from the people he knew, including former head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Brand could serve as another mentor to Okafor, who has become a transformed player with his troubles in the rear view mirror.

"“You might’ve noticed we’ve got a pretty talented kid on the roster in Jahlil Okafor, someone I happen to share some things in commong with,” said Brand on Sports Illustrated’s “The Cauldron“. “Despite how he’s been portrayed, I know Jahlil. He’s a good kid with a good heart. He’s not unlike most 20-year-olds you probably know, and he’s definitely not at all different than most of his fellow players.”"

It’s not just Okafor who Brand is expected to be an positive influence on. He’s primed to help the youth and boost the Sixers in a plethora of categories.

“I am truly honored to be able to pass on what I have learned to Jahlil, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and my other teammates, and to be a positive influence on a young team with an incredibly bright future,” said Brand. “It’s time for me to give back to the game that has given me so much. Let’s do this.”

It’s a play to essentially mold their talent-laded frontcourt by bringing in guys who know the game, have experience and can offer valuable advice. Also, it’s not like Brand is just a veteran role player who’s been around the league for a long time. In his prime playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Brand averaged 21.3 PPG from the 2003-04 to 2006-07. Throughout his 16-year career, the veteran is averaging 16.1 PPG and 8.6 RPG while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor. A dept interior offensive presence, his game focused more around post hooks and mid-range jumpers than athletic dunks and overpowering his defenders.

That’s reminiscent of Okafor’s offensive mentality, as the rookie utilizes an extensive offensive repertoire to overmatch defenders. His athleticism in the 2015-16 season has trumped his hulking power that guided him at Duke.

Similar to Ish Smith providing a boost for Nerlens Noel’s game, Brand helping out Okafor would be ideal for the Sixers. Brand feels like he’s “repaying what’s owed.” This unselfish act of giving back to the organization can only benefit Philadelphia long-term. Even if Okafor doesn’t show immediate progress or Brand’s impression on the team isn’t evident, it’s still commendable that he’s invested in helping Philadelphia develop.

As a result of signing Brand, Philadelphia waived rookie Christian Wood. The undrafted product of UNLV exceeded limited expectations in the 14 games played for the Sixers this season. Making appearances in garbage time or late in games, the 6-11 forward averaged only 3.6 PPG, but converted 44.2 percent of his looks from the field and shot 44.4 percent from deep.

Wood was an entity that reflected Philadelphia’s quest to sign young players with high-upside to team-friendly deals with the hope they could develop into a future asset. Releasing the 20-year-old over a much elder Carl Landry or Kendall Marshall clashes with the theme that the Sixers have conveyed as a franchise, but Wood’s lack of playing time might have played a part in his departure.

However, the 36-year-old Brand could foster future benefits in the form of mentoring. It’s apparent that the Sixers’ primary focus resides in their three bigs in Okafor, Noel and Joel Embiid. With management’s acquisition of both Smith and Brand, the Sixers brass is attempting to invest heavy stock in amplifying and accentuating the production of the trio.

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Brand’s arrival marks a shift in “The Process”. Philadelphia is relinquishing future assets (second-round picks and Wood) for veterans who can make an impact on the prestigious and invaluable core the organization possesses. Brand could be just the start, as the Sixers attempt to climb back to relevancy.