The Elton Brand Deal

I'm sure I don't have to waste the space detailing the events and the ensuing controversy of the Elton Brand signing this week. Quite frankly, the questions about who's to blame for Brand breaking his verbal committment to the Clippers and inking a deal with the Sixers is played at this point. The bottom line: EB will suit up for the home team next season.

I can't say I'm as giddy as the rest of the Delaware Valley about the deal. Yes, the Sixers took an aggressive approach to free agency this year and landed, arguably, the best free agent on the market. In doing so, they addressed one of their most glaring needs by picking up an established PF. On paper, the starting lineup looks as exciting as any in the league with Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Sammy Dalebert, Thaddeus Young and now EB. I can't argue the fact that the Sixers improved the team with this move.

But, I can't help but wonder if the Sixers overpaid for marginal improvement. Does the additon of Elton Brand to this lineup push them that much closer to competing with the Celtics and Pistons for dominance in the East? Something tells me it doesn't. Considering this, my stomach churns when I look at the numbers the Sixers agreed to. Five years for roughly 80 million seems kind of steep for a guy who's pretty close to the wrong side of 30. Plus, Brand is coming off a year in which he only played 8 games due to a stress facture. If I'm the Sixers, I don't know if I can make that kind of committment to a guy who comes into this year with so many question marks.

Anyway, I hope I'll look back at this post next June when the Sixers are deep into the playoffs and laugh because I was totally off base with this apprehension.