Elton Brand says he would have loved to return, but he also knew the Sixers had to make changes if they were going to improve.

Those changes included the Sixers opting to use their amnesty clause on Brand, who was claimed by the Dallas Mavericks late Friday. Dallas’ winning bid was reportedly $2.1 million, but Brand still will be paid the full $18.1 million he is owed. The Sixers will pay the balance, but the money will not count against the salary cap.

“We just didn’t get it done,” Brand said. “I’m a realist. If we had got it done, I’d have still been there, absolutely. No hard feelings at all. I’ll still root for the organization. I had a great time. The fans were great. We started changing the culture. It was good.”

via The Philadelphia Inquirer