Surveying the landscape of NBA power forwards over the past decade-plus, it is difficult to locate a better model citizen of the league than 36-year old Elton Brand.
While Brand might not be able to provide the astounding athleticism that we witness on a nightly basis from other power forwards league-wise, he does offer veteran wisdom that many others do not offer, leadership skills that the 3-33 Philadelphia 76ers are certainly lacking.
The young, rebuilding 76ers took a step towards acquiring a level of veteran presence in their locker room by signing the formerly-retired Brand to a contract while waiving forward Christian Wood on Monday afternoon.
The organization made the transaction with the hopes of providing mentorship for inexperienced big men Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid with the team having just one player over the age of 27 (32-year old power forward Carl Landry).
Okafor has received a tremendous amount of criticism so far this season for his immature actions off of the floor, having been suspended for two games by the league after videos surfaced throughout the internet of him throwing haymakers at a heckling Celtics fan at a Boston nightclub in November.
The 20-year old is posting exceptional numbers of 17.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in his rookie season, however, his need for an experienced voice in his ear is obvious.
Okafor was rumored to have been held at gunpoint by a weapon-wielding citizen outside a Philadelphia club in October while being pulled over for speeding at an exhorbitant pace of 108 MPH on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which connects the city to the state of New Jersey, a month later, underlining the 76ers need to provide him with a disciplinary presence.
Brand, who averaged 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in a career-low 13.5 minutes per contest with the Atlanta Hawks last season, started at the power forward spot for the 76ers from 2008-2012.
The 16-year veteran started 81 games for Philadelphia in 2010-11, averaging 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his most successful statistical season with the franchise, just shy of his career averages of 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Brand, who made the Western Conference All-Star team in both 2002 and 2006 while with the Los Angeles Clippers (he averaged 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in 2005-06) elaborated on his decision to return to the City of Brotherly Love in an article he penned for Sports Illustrated's "The Cauldron."
"The truth is, my decision to return to the NBA isn’t about money, and it isn’t about rings. It isn’t even about me, really, although every athlete would like to go out on his or her own terms. It’s about repaying what’s owed, about making sure that the young men who follow in my footsteps get what they’re entitled to (and what I haven’t always given them)."
Brand also touched upon his new teammate and fellow Duke product. "Despite how he’s been portrayed, I know Jahlil. He’s a good kid with a good heart. He’s not unlike most 20-year-olds you probably know, and he’s definitely not at all different than most of his fellow players.
"Hell, if camera phones were around when Brad Miller, Ron Artest, and I were Jahlil’s age, we might’ve been banned from the league altogether, never mind suspended for a few games."
"I’m not coming here to hold Jahlil’s hand — or anyone else’s, for that matter — because that’s not what he needs. But I do believe my experience and wisdom can benefit him and my other young teammates."
Despite the fact that Brand's playing opportunities in the rotation of head coach Brett Brown will be limited, he should have a significant effect on the behavior of Okafor and the other budding players on the squad.