Elton Brand Heading to Dallas
According to a press release, the Dallas Mavericks have claimed Elton Brand off of amnesty waivers. Terms were not disclosed, but it’s been reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com that the Mavs were awarded Brand with a winning bid of $2.1 million. Per the amnesty process, the Philadelphia 76ers will pay the remainder ($16 million) of the original $18.1 million still owed to Brand.
The 33-year-old Brand averaged 11 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 60 starts this past season for the Sixers. Over the course of his 13-year career, Brand has averaged 18.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest.
A former two-time All Star, Brand has battled his way back to being a productive NBA player after rupturing his left Achilles tendon with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2007. While not the same caliber of player as his All-Star days, Brand has carved out a niche late in his career as a defense-first player who can still score points with his back to the basket while being a solid rebounder. Brand’s strength makes him a force around the basket despite being somewhat undersized at 6-9, 264 pounds.
The Mavericks – fresh off of inking Chris Kaman to a one-year deal and trading for Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones of the Indiana Pacers – have now found themselves a quality big man to help solidify the post off the bench. While Kaman and Dirk Nowitzki are expected to occupy the starting spots at center and power forward, Brand could see plenty of action as a reserve at both positions.
Another one-year deal, the move to acquire Brand falls right line with the Mavericks’ strategy of keeping their options open for the summer of 2013.
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