Philadelphia 76ers Trade Rumors 2016: Elton Brand Reunites with Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers are losing games for the greater purpose of rebuilding for the future. More than half of the players in the roster are young guys who have less than five years of experience in the league. But there came a time this season that they no longer could bear losing one game after another, breaking records along the way.
As a sign of moving toward a new direction, the team signed Mike D'Antoni to help the coaching staff. Next up, they agreed to vacate a roster spot in order to accommodate veteran player Elton Brand, the purpose of which was to provide leadership and mentorship to the Sixers' young big men, particularly promising rookie Jahlil Okafor.
No doubt the team needs some mentoring, especially in their frontline trio of Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Joel Embiid. Brand, a free agent forward assured that he will be able to provide some sort of guidance for those future stars. "I know I can affect change and be a part of something," the 36-year-old power forward said. "I might not make it to the end when it's really, really good around here. But I can be a part of something as a player," he added.
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Sure the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls is a great example of hard work. Although he couldn't find a team to sign him this season, he still managed to keep himself fit, spending most of his time working out, riding bikes, and doing yoga. If there is one thing young players need to understand more these days is the importance of keeping oneself healthy and fit.
The Sixers might have made a good decision here considering that the roster only has two players with more than five years of experience. The addition of Brand means there will be a veteran presence in the locker room who can become the adviser to everyone else.
One of Brand's major roles in rejoining the Sixers organization he once played for is keeping tabs and mentoring this year's third overall pick in Okafor. Although the rookie has obvious bright potential ahead of him, he still needs guidance both on and off the court. The team suspended him for two games due to several reported off-court incidents.
The last time Brand played was with the Atlanta Hawks. The veteran of 16 seasons has accomplished so much in his career, appearing in 1,041 NBA games and producing averages of 16.0 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks per game.
