Without Brand, begin Operation Sammy
What the Sixers should try to get done without Elton Brand.
Without Brand, begin Operation Sammy
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Except that there is something that can be accomplished in Brand's absence.
Call it Operation Sammy.
The goal should be two-fold: to get Samuel Dalembert out of the funk into which he has sunk this season, and then to trade him for the shooter that this team needs so badly.
Sammy is big. Sammy can run. Sammy can rebound. When whatever weight of the world that rests upon his shoulders is lifted, he gives you something. For an outsider looking in, he has a couple of the unteachables -- big, fast -- and he can resemble a nice piece in a rotation. Weighed down, like this season, he is a waste of playing time. But get him going, galloping, excited again, and you've got something.
In Brand's absence, the Sixers can attempt to re-create what they had at the end of last season. There is a decent chance, in fact, that they will look better in Brand's absence than they have with him on the floor, that they will re-discover their intensity and their legs without everybody tripping over themselves in an attempt to defer to everybody else. Some people might mock that. The correct reply goes like this: given time and health, Brand will make them better. He is not the reason they slowed down -- the rest of them are the reason. And come playoff time, if there is a playoff time, Brand will make them a far more viable team than they were last spring.
But a shooter remains the gaping hole in the blueprint. Dalembert might be able to get them that shooter. At this point, though, Dalembert will get them nothing. They need to re-find whatever he has lost, re-capture the fun for him, and then do a deal. Marreese Speights can fill his role -- he's doing it more and more anyway.
So that's it. That's how the Sixers make this month productive.
Not only would I trade Sammy, Id tell Speights to start at C in his place. Who could we get for Dalembert? Lebron James?— low2behold- Sammy has the basketball IQ of me when I was 7— Joe the Bat
- The cap wouldn't work for that deal. That's absolutely the only reason it wouldn't happen.— B in DC
- I would trade Sammy for a basketball player with no legs. I mean come on. This guy is the worse...WORSE Center in the league. Give him away at this point. Bring back Korver. What a dumb move that was to trade the teams best outside shooting threat. DUMB as usual.— Big Ragu
- Everything happens for a reason. This is Sam's chance to flourish, and show some other team starving for a big man that he has some skills. Then, dump him on them suckas for a headshooter. Tell them to call BK for references! Its a shame that as many years as he has been playing professional ball that he has not been able to develop 1 low post move. Speights is for real, that kid has a nose for the ball. I like that he and Moses are from the same city.— VDogg
- Everything happens for a reason. This is Sam's chance to flourish, and show some other team starving for a big man that he has some skills. Then, dump him on them suckas for a headshooter. Tell them to call BK for references! Its a shame that as many years as he has been playing professional ball that he has not been able to develop 1 low post move. Speights is for real, that kid has a nose for the ball. I like that he and Moses are from the same city.— VDogg
- If they wanted to run; why did they get Elton Brand instead of Josh Smith?— chgtown
- This guy was a project when drafted and continues to be one. Athletic, blocks shots and rebounds ok, and runs the floor fairly well, but is utterly useless on the offensive end. Unload him soon please!— GetRealYouIdiots
- This guy was a project when drafted and continues to be one. Athletic, blocks shots and rebounds ok, and runs the floor fairly well, but is utterly useless on the offensive end. Unload him soon please!— GetRealYouIdiots
- Agree to start Speights... If anyone would trade a shooting guard for sammy, take it before they realize sammy is the Milennium version of Shawn Bradley... Just ask Jimmy Lynam...who traded Penny Hardway for Bradley long ago... It's like deja vu...— JimmyD
- I agree with the Josh Smith comments. The problem is not that Brand is not a great player. The problem is that they got an older, injured player instead of staying young and getting Josh Smith. That, if I am correct, was not Mo Checks doing !— freyday17
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JimG is the only one with any basketball IQ. GReat job Jim.— Reese- Comment removed.
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