Elton Brand's return from missing 16 games with a dislocated right shoulder didn't start the way the Sixers had hoped. Brand looked a little rusty in his first game back, accumulating six points, three rebounds and two blocks in 13-plus minutes before he was even less effective in going scoreless with three boards in 18-plus minutes during Monday's 15-point loss to the Hornets.
Now, there are reports that the Sixers might be willing to trade Brand halfway through the first season of a five-year, $80 million contract with the team. An ESPN.com report cited unnamed sources as indicating Brand is available, but wondered if any team would want Brand, "given how poorly he's played this year and his huge contract."
That had message boards hopping, with fans suggesting deals involving everyone from Shawn Marion to Amare Stoudemire to Rasheed Wallce to former Sixer Larry Hughes to Monta Ellis in return for Brand.
Brand, who is making $13.8 million, hasn't been as productive as the Sixers had hoped in his first season with the team. The Sixers played well with a smaller lineup that forced turnovers and excelled in the open court when Brand was injured and have decided to continue playing that style, forcing Brand to try to fit into a system that is not ideal for him.
The Sixers gave Brand plenty of touches in the half-court offense earlier in the season, but that limited the effectiveness of Andre Iguodala and others, and also kept the Sixers from running as much as they wanted and needed to.
Brand was more involved in his 25-and-a-half minutes during Wednesday's 95-93 road victory over the Rockets, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots.
SIXERS 95, ROCKETS 93: The Sixers went 1-1 on their two-game road trip by beating Houston after losing to New Orleans by 15. The Sixers (22-22) went 20-for-21 from the foul line against Houston after missing eight free throws against the Hornets and held a 38-30 rebounding advantage. They won despite being outscored 24-3 from the three-point line and while having the same number of assists (18) as turnovers.
Andre Iguodala had 20 points and Lou Williams 17 for the Sixers, who begin a season-long seven-game homestand Friday against the Wizards.
