Elton Brand has had a very solid career numerically, he seems like a nice enough guy, and he fills a definite need for the 76ers. But here are the facts:
- 1. Brand is entering his 10th NBA season and will turn 30 during this coming campaign. Giving out fat five-year contracts to a guy on the wrong side of the big three-oh is a dicey proposition, especially if he's ...
2. ... coming off of a serious injury. Who knows how the achilles tear is going to affect his long-term explosiveness? It would have been nice to see him play more than eight games last year to make sure he's not...
3. ... already on the decline. After a career year in 2005-06 -- 24.7 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 blocks -- he posted 20.5, 9.3 and 2.2 in 2006-07. Numbers don't matter when you win, but this guy is ...
4. ... a career loser. Outside of that 2005-06 squad, no team with Brand on the roster has even gone .500. His teams, including last year (you can't give him a pass for missing the year with an injury), have averaged 30.3 wins per season. I know he's been stuck with the post-MJ Bulls and the Clippers, but making the playoffs once a decade means you're not a superstar. Period.
Even if Brand manages to regain a portion of his effectiveness and the 76ers do get better in the short run, they're not going to compete for a title without another serious move, L-Eastern Conference or not.
Mark my words: before the contract is up, Philly will be itching to unload it somewhere, and its size is going to preclude them from adding an important piece to the Andre Iguodala-Thaddeus Young-Louis Williams trio when those three are just reaching their prime.