Elton Brand‘s rise to GM will make the Sixers a more attractive destination for free agents, former agent David Falk tells David Murphy of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Falk, who represented Brand during his playing career, said the new GM is in a perfect spot to transform the franchise.
“I think he’s in a window where he is young enough where people know him as a player and he’s old enough to understand the business side,” Falk said. “I think that [the Sixers] have a great core, two very special young players in [Joel] Embiid and [Ben] Simmons. It’s one of the top 10 media markets in the country. There’s a great history to the franchise. And I think that today’s generation of players has demonstrated a desire to team up … they have two-thirds of the equation here. They need a third or possibly a fourth. I think it’s going to be very attractive to a lot of players.”
Falk said Brand showed he can handle the job through the amount of effort he put into running the organization’s G League team in Delaware last season.
There’s more today from Philadelphia:
- Brand and coach Brett Brown will run the team as partners, owner Josh Harris explained to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers won’t fill Bryan Colangelo’s former post of president of basketball operations, Harris added. Brand and Brown are expected to collaborate on decisions and will report to Harris and the ownership group. “Ultimately, Brett is the on-the-court voice,” Harris said. “Elton is the off-the-court voice. Elton will have kind of the loudest voice off the court, and final decision-making authority subject to ownership.”
- First-round pick Zhaire Smith underwent a follow-up appointment this week after having surgery in August to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, the Sixers announced in an email. Doctors are pleased with his progress and he has been cleared to put full weight on the foot. Smith will be evaluated again in four weeks. The team also offered updates on Shake Milton, who has been cleared for limited contract after suffering a stress fracture in his back, and Landry Shamet, who has been fully cleared after spraining his right ankle.
- Among the topics Simmons addressed at this year’s media day was an upcoming television show based on his life, relays Australian website news.com.au. “Brotherly Love” has received a script commitment from NBC, with LeBron James of SpringHill Entertainment listed as an executive producer.
Honestly, after waiting so long to find a replacement an in-house guy like Brand makes sense.
Already a tough choice to make. I think butler is the perfect piece for them. Would be one hell of a big 3 with reddick and Covington to round them out it might be worth tossing fultz or saric and a first
Reddick and saric would be good as well
… and?
I think Philly will make the Finals and beat the Warriors. Ben Simmons might go down the best all-around player of all-time. His passing,court-vision,rebounding, and combination of athleticism and strength is special. Together with Embiid I think they both can do damage on defense and beat the Warriors, it will happen I think.
Ben Simmons Finals MVP with 23 ppg 16 rpg and 11 apg
Embiid with 49pts 29rebs and 18blks a game takes finals mvp. Mark my words.
Also he wins the Stanley Cup on one skate.
Embiid could also Winn Finals MVP, Id say he averages 29 ppg 14 rpg with 3 bpg.
Totally agree. That is the future man, hopefully the present too, they have by far the best 2 young players in the league, generational talents, no other team has that. But they must keep Fultz & Dario, they don’t need Butler, locker room cancer, he won’t play 2nd fiddle to LBJ in Lakers, why would he play 3rd or 4th fidddle in Philly? Just doesn’t make any sense.