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He's a bust if he gets hurt again. Otherwise, he's exactly what they need.

Sure they could have taken their chance on Josh Smith and he would have fit in their fast tempo style. But last year the only time they could score was on the break. If the opponent shut that down they they really suffered on offense. With Dalembert and Evans (and sometimes Green) in there at the same time it was like playing 2 on 5 in the halfcourt.

As for the moulah, that's free agency for ya. But still, he's 20 and 10 if he's back at full strength. He said in the PC that the heel was rigorously tested, so we'll see. He played in almost every game the previous three years.

The guy's one of the best PFs in the game. Great signing.

He's a bust if he gets hurt again. Otherwise, he's exactly what they need.

Sure they could have taken their chance on Josh Smith and he would have fit in their fast tempo style. But last year the only time they could score was on the break. If the opponent shut that down they they really suffered on offense. With Dalembert and Evans (and sometimes Green) in there at the same time it was like playing 2 on 5 in the halfcourt.

As for the moulah, that's free agency for ya. But still, he's 20 and 10 if he's back at full strength. He said in the PC that the heel was rigorously tested, so we'll see. He played in almost every game the previous three years.

The guy's one of the best PFs in the game. Great signing.

Agreed with SZR.

VERY nice signing.

Let's all give a hearty "thumbs up" to Clippers management for screwing this up:

Brand knows there is controversy and consternation in Los Angeles. He believes it is terribly misplaced.

"Whatever they're feeling today, it will definitely change tomorrow, once they know the facts," he said. "[They'll know] Elton is who he was, it's not basically on him as it was perceived through so-called leaks."

He said there was never any "underground handshake" with Baron Davis, who left the Warriors to sign with the Clippers. He said he never had a deal with the Clippers. Falk said the Clippers made an initial offer ($70 million) and, through coach Mike Dunleavy, explained "the owner [Donald Sterling] really wasn't comfortable making the offer, and that if Elton turned the offer down the owner would be just as happy."

"They basically told us the owner was unavailable to discuss the offer any further and that it was basically either accept it or don't," Falk said.

The $82 mil they saved will buy a LOT of paper cups to pour that celebratory merlot in.

Brand is an absolute bargain compared to the 72 mill over five seasons that Bogut is getting.

Thanks for the knowledge, Moneyshotz.

section, I hear what you're saying. This signing does seem to have "too good to be true because it's Philly" written all over it.

However, the guy is one of 4 players in the NBA to average 20 and 10, which is, you know, kind of huge. They sorely needed the secondary option, and he's definitely it, if not the primary option for this team.

The injury concerns are obvious, but if you look at his stats in the games he played at the end of the season, you don't see much evidence of lingering effects. Stats-wise, he looked like he was back on the train.

I love the signing. The fact that he took less to come here means he wants to win. Granted in the west the Warriors had no shot to make a run in the next few years. When healthy (key word) healthy he is one of the top power forwards in the game. I think he is on par or better than the following:

Duncan
Amare
Garnett
Boozer
Bosh
Al Jefferson

If you say he's on par with Garnett and Duncan- well, that's a mouthful.

Question for you Money-

Would Garnett or Duncan on this Sixers team be enough to push them to a Finals berth?

No on Garnett, yes on Duncan, IMO.

Fred,

I think in the east on both yes and here is my reason.

The Sixers are a very good fast break team w/o a big guy who can rebound on a constant basis. If you brought Garnett or Duncan in here, that makes the fast break even better. I am not sure how many games you watched last year but they get up and down the court. In the Pistons series they out played the Pistons in 2 of the first 3 games then talent and experience took over. I think right now with the team they have they are a top four team in the east behind Boston, Detroit and Cleveland. Not a fan or Orlando they are a one man show. Granted Lewis and Hedo are good players put they both had unreal years last year, doubt that will happen again. Raptors same thing Bosh and that's it.

If you brought Garnett or Duncan in here, that makes the fast break even better.


There is no fast break in the NBA playoffs.

Brand is a very good pickup and one I've been hoping for for quite some time. For the Sixers' needs, he is a much better signing than J. Smith would have been b/c he gives the team exactly what it needs in the post: a proven, dependable scorer.

Smith, while 7 years younger that EB, is more of a small forward (a position the Sixers seem pretty set at with Thad and Iggy). True, Smith is an athletic freak who can jup out of the building, rebound (when he wants to) and block shots. But his offense, and mid-range jumper particularly, is too inconsistent. If you look at his season breakdown, he started slowly, played like a beast in the middle of the season then tailed of in the last 30 games. Plus, he's reportedly got some attitude issues, something you don't have to worry about with Brand. And he would have commanded the same money the Sixers paid to a proven commodity whose game better compliments the team's needs.

Brand will be a good tutor and paint partner to Dalembert, who, let's face it, is what he is at this point. Sam is defensive presence on the boards and block, but his offense is limited and most likely won't improve much beyond where it is now.

If there is a slight concern about these two together in the post, it is that both guys are stronger weak side defenders, meaning one guy will have to play outside of his comfort zone.

What the Sixers really need now is a jump shooter good enough to make Willie Green take a seat and serve as a sub, the role he's better suited for.

That and a defensive stopper on the wing -- Posey would be a nice pickup if they could land him on the cheap.

What should be clear about this signing is that the Sixers, who played up-tempo out of necessity last year, will probably run more of a conventional half-court offense this season.

Still, the trade-off is that this move (assuming Brand is fully healthy) basically guarantees that they make it to the second round of the playoffs, and with a few breaks the conference finals. I think they remain one year, and one relibale shooter, away from a finals berth.

Moneyshotz mentioned a number of players in comparison to EB. Of those named, only Duncan and Garnett are better all-around players. Amare remains half a player b/c he can't guard my shadow; Boozer is OVERRATED, Bosh is a talent but not on EB's level yet and Al Jeff is still developing but will probably never be a true star in the league.

nice breakdown Julamy

Thanks FB. I'm happy to be back after a lengthy absence caused by a crazy work schedule.

Plus, I need to get my posting stats up to improve my pathetic leaderboard standings.

Julamy, what happened? "Crazy work schedule" does not cut it. It's been an couple years, no?

I don't think it's been a couple of years, more like a couple months -- I think my last posts were in early 2008.

But in truth, I really have no other excuse than to say I took a new job in late 2007 and (while I enjoy it) the hours have been killer.

What the Sixers really need now is a jump shooter good enough to make Willie Green take a seat and serve as a sub, the role he's better suited for.

Assuming they sign Iguodala, Green already is a sub.

apparently, they promised brand that they would match any offer made to AI.

Flesh,

For the record, Willie Green started 74 games last season, per NBA.com. And I think it's safe to say most of those starts came at the SG position.

One can make a convincing case that Iggy is better suited to play 2-guard -- and once Thad is ready for prime-time that switch may be made -- but for the moment AI-squared remains the team's SF and Willie is the SG.

That should have been addressed to SZR, not Flesh.

My mistake.

Julamy, both the GM and the coach say that Iggy is the starting 2 and Thad is the starting 3.

Green is a sub.

One can make a convincing case that Iggy is better suited to play 2-guard

i think iggy is better suited to play the 3, not the two, because he can't shoot well enough for a 2.

i'd clearly rather have iggy than green as my 2, but i still feel like iggy really isn't a perfect fit on this team now that you have brand at 4 and young at 3.

I heard somewhere that Ben Gordon is expendable

SZR,

I assume those comments you attributed to Mo and Ed refer to the upcoming season, not the past season. B/c during the past season Iggy and Willie started a combined 156 games; Thad started 22.

Huh? Of course I'm talking about the upcoming season.

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