The Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a one-year deal to re-sign veteran center Elton Brand on Wednesday.
The deal was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:
Free agent Elton Brand has signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, league source tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 7, 2016
76ers re-sign Elton Brand
Last season, Brand averaged 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17 games for the 76ers. Brand, 37, is heading into his 18th season and has clearly been re-signed by head coach Brett Brown for his invaluable veteran leadership. Many believed Brand would retire this off-season, but Philadelphia definitely benefits from Brand’s presence in the locker room.
Brand was drafted No. 1 overall by the Bulls in 1999 out of Duke University. After spending just two seasons in Chicago, Brand was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Brand would go on to have the best stint of his career in Los Angeles, making it to two all-star games in his seven years with the Clippers.
During the 2007-08 season, Brand would only manage to play eight games for the Clippers. Due to injury problems that season, the Clippers would end up letting Brand leave in free agency. Brand would sign with the 76ers and play there for four seasons. In those four seasons, Brand’s numbers dropped and his performances began to look underwhelming. Brand would go from scoring a career high 24.7 points in Los Angeles to just 13.8 points in his first year in Philadelphia.
The 76ers have a lot of young talent with players like Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel; just to name the big men. Nobody really knows who the 76ers will keep or trade, but Brand is beneficial to all of these young big men. Ben Simmons and Dario Saric are both heading into their first NBA season, and Brand can provide great leadership even if he doesn’t get on the court. The main reason 76ers CEO Jerry Colangelo added Brand to the roster in January this year is his veteran leadership. Brand can provide this all season for a young 76ers team.
Main photo:
