Shooting Down A Brand Rumor
Despite a comment by Chad Ford during an ESPN.com chat session, the 76ers are not making Elton Brand available on the trade market.
Shooting Down A Brand Rumor
HOUSTON--The response by ESPN.com's Chad Ford to a chat session question all but jumped off the Internet. Elton Brand, the player the 76ers signed for five years and $79.8 million, was available on the trade market? Already?
Ford: "From what my sources around the league are saying, Brand is available. The question is, given how poorly he's played this year and his huge contract, does anybody want him?''
My comment: Calm down. While Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski said he does not comment on rumors, a source familiar with the Sixers situation said that Ford's premise is incorrect, that Stefanski had not contacted anyone about Brand, that the chat session comment had no legs.
The source also said that, if Brand's name did come up in conversations with other teams--and that's not necessarily the case, either--it might have been teams inquiring about Brand's rehab process after suffering a dislocated right shoulder Dec. 17. At the same time, team executives are constantly trying to gauge the value of their players around the NBA. That's just the nature of the business.
All Stefanski would say was: ''I think it's early, and Elton is just trying to fit in. He's been lively defensively. He's just trying to feel his way.''
Coach Tony DiLeo's plan is to again bring Brand off the bench tonight against the Houston Rockets in the Toyota Center/ This will be Brand's third appearance after missing 16 games. He played 13 minutes against the New York Knicks and 18 minutes against the New Orleans Hornets.
DiLeo said he does not have a specific timetable for when Brand would resume his role as the starting power forward.
''We don't have it in mind that he'll go back to starting after three games or four games or anything like that,'' DiLeo said. ''When it's time, it'll show itself.''
Signing Brand was an idiotic move from the jump...too old. A waste of 80 mil,sixers need a serious re-vamp from the owner down.— P.H.I
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Folks - lets give Brand some time to adjust and give the coach some time to make it happen. Brand....he has to "get his miiiiiind right"— psuwelsh
- Comment removed.
- Coleman to Webber to Brand.....if only this referred to a double play combination. Oy vey.— rockinrob
- If Brand can't run, why was he leading the fast break and finishing last night? If he can't play how did he manage 6 blocks? Trade him? What a stupid idea. Watch the Sixers climb the standings now. 4th spot in the East. Preview next week, Phila. v. Boston.— ricky
- langx-- so many mistakes in your post. Ray Allen was picked up by the Celtics in a trade, and Kobe Bryant was drafted by the then Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Lakers in the Eddie Jones deal.— phillylawyer78
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
