Sixers Notes: Elton Brand praises his old team, the 76ers

Former 76er Elton Brand has fond memories of the four seasons he played in Philadelphia, and even though the team parted ways with Brand by using the amnesty clause on him, he has no hard feelings.

"They are great players, great coaches and - even more important - they are great people," Brand said Tuesday morning as the Dallas Mavericks prepared to face the Sixers that night at the Wells Fargo Center. "And you hope that doesn't change because that could bring a team down."

"But as long as they have great guys who are willing to grow, willing to get better and willing to listen, the franchise will be all right," said Brand, who averaged 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in his time with the Sixers. "I still root for the franchise and I want them to do well - but not tonight."

Brand struggled to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered with the Los Angeles Clippers. He never became the player the Sixers thought he would become when they signed him to a five-year, $80 million deal in 2008.

Brand said he has been watching the Andrew Bynum situation closely - plagued by knee problems, Bynum is in the final year of his contract - and offered some advice.

"It's tough as a player," Brand said. "I came here with high aspirations similar to Bynum, and being hurt it was tough, but you've got to try to keep grinding and trying to get out there. I think it will turn out well for the city and well for the fans."

Brand encouraged Bynum to do what is best for himself in the long run. "You have to weigh what is best for your future, because if you come back too early you can complicate things even further and there won't be any contract at all," Brand said.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle had high praise for 76ers coach Doug Collins.

"Best-coached team in the league, year in and year out," Carlisle said. "Pound-for-pound, there is no better coach than Doug Collins. He's doing a great job with them. They don't have Bynum, who they were depending on to be sort of the focal point of what they were doing. But with the pieces they've got, they are playing great basketball and we are going to have to be really solid to beat them."