Elton Brand

Successful professional franchises across American sports have long been able to uncover value with underappreciated talent. Consider Brand the Hawks' attempt to reinvigorate a past-his-prime Brand by penciling him into a rotation with other similar players. With so many talented players in the Atlanta frontcourt, it seems unlikely the 34-year old will be able to post hefty numbers, but he should provide a significant leadership role.

Brand was amnestied in the offseason after averaging a career-low 11.0 points/7.2 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per game for Philadelphia. He was part of the Sixers’ resurgence in 2010-11, but they’ve moved on without him. Enter the Mavericks, a team that has lacked quality low post threats for several years. They had the winning bid on amnesty waivers and got Brand at a mere $2.1 million for this season. Brand feels he has something left to give and should be motivated in what now turns out to be one-year deal. He’ll split time at both the four and five, backing up Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman. He probably won’t be asked to play more than 30 minutes a night, so we’re expecting the rebounding numbers to remain subdued, though he should remain a good source of blocked shots. He does many things well on the low block to get himself into position to score, but it’s unlikely he becomes a focal point of the second unit’s offense. Not with Vince Carter around.

One of the better stories of the 2010-11 season was Brand’s resurgence in Philadelphia. After suffering an Achilles injury during his first season in Philly and looking like a shell of his former self in 2009-10, Brand bounced back last year. Under new Sixers coach Doug Collins, Brand averaged 15.0 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 78.0 percent from the line in 35 minutes per game. His defensive play was also particularly strong, as Brand averaged 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks. He still has two more seasons on his contract with the Sixers, so Brand should be cemented in Philly’s starting five as the team’s primary low-post option. His age and recent injury history will rightly give perspective owners pause on draft day, but Brand should come at a decent enough price to make the investment worth the risk.

Worst free-agent acquisition in history? Brand is certainly in the mix. His two seasons in Philly have been marked by major injuries and new career lows in just about every category. But with three years and a whole lot of zeros remaining on his contract, new Sixer coach Doug Collins has little choice but to try and get something out of the one-time star. Collins has reportedly asked Brand to get down to a playing weight of 255, in the hopes that will take some stress of his legs and help him return to his pre-Philly production numbers. As things stand, it appears Brand will be used off the bench this year, backing up the power forward and center positions.

Brand’s first season in Philadelphia was a disaster, as he was slow to recover from his Achilles’ surgery and later suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Before the latter problem, Brand lacked explosiveness and often looked slow-footed, resulting in averages of just 13.8 points and 1.6 blocks – both career-lows. Brand is just 30 years old, so it’s not like he’s finished being an impact player, but he’s now missed 127 games over the past two seasons, so his durability is in question. Now another year removed from the Achilles’ surgery, Brand should also be fully recovered from his shoulder problem entering training camp, so he enters the season 100 percent healthy for the first time since 2007-08. When he was right physically just two years ago, he put up a monstrous season: 20.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals 2.2 blocks per game. Brand plays much bigger than his 6-8 frame, possessing an array of low-post moves to go along with face-up ability. If the explosion returns, Brand makes for a nice bounce-back candidate who should come at a discount after back-to-back disappointing campaigns. It still remains to be seen how he’ll mesh with his teammates in Philadelphia, but getting away from the West and into the East should only benefit his numbers.

Brand has toiled for years in the relative anonymity of a Los Angeles Clippers uniform. This year, on a young and promising Sixer squad, he should re-claim the numbers � and the status � of one of the game�s very best post players. Brand missed most of last season after suffering a ruptured Achilles� tendon, but was able to return and appear in some games down the stretch � that�s a terrific indication that he�ll be at or near 100 percent when the games start to matter. The team he�s joining could be primed to make a Boston-esque jump from also-ran to contender status � the core of Brand, veteran point guard Andre Miller, do-everything wing Andre Iguodala and talented youngsters like Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young could contend for a top-four playoff seed � and the last time Brand played for a real playoff contender, he averaged 25-and-10.

Brand ruptured his Achilles tendon this summer, which drops him from a first-round fantasy pick to a late-round sleeper. He’s the ultimate lottery ticket: if he returns around the All-Star break he could help lead teams to the Promised Land down the stretch. On the other hand, it would not be surprising at all for him to miss the entire season, especially if the Clippers, as will very likely be the case, are well out of contention. Draft him at your own risk, but know that sometimes it is better to have the potential of a franchise-caliber player on your bench than an extra role player taken late in the draft.

Brand had by far the best season of his career last year, and at 27 years old, should just now be entering into his prime. Brand averaged 24.7 ppg last season, shattering his old career-high by almost five points, while also pulling down 10 rebounds, blocking 2.5 shots, shooting 53% from the field and 78% from the line, dishing 2.6 assists, and grabbing 1.0 steals per game. Brand has always put up good numbers, but with a strong team keeping opposing defenses from focusing solely on him, he was able to take his game to the next level. Brand may be only 6-8, but he is very strong and quick, and has extremely long arms that combine to allow him to have his way in the post, block shots and either out-muscle or out-quick his opponents. Brand became one of the elite fantasy producers in the NBA last season, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t solidify that rarified status this year.

All this ex-Dukie does is put up numbers; one of these days, he'll get to show his stuff in the postseason, but fantasy owners will take his consistent production night in and night out. Brand will be right around 20 points and 10 rebounds per game every year, and with Sam Cassell to get him the ball (and with Cassell and Cuttino Mobley to chuck a lot of shots up there for Brand to grab -- he was second in the NBA in offensive rebounds in 2004-05), expect an uptick in both categories in 2005-06. Brand will also help you with two blocks, nearly three assists and a steal per game.

This seems appropriate in an election year - three things are inevitable: death, taxes, and Elton Brand getting 20-and-10. He does it fairly anonymously. His name only really comes up as a response when some genius talks about how Duke players don't succeed in the NBA, or when some sportswriter laments how Brand's talent and professionalism is wasted as he toils for Donald Sterling. Another 20 points. Another 10 boards. And some smart fantasy team owner moves into first place... because he was smart enough to grab the incredibly consistent Mr. Brand.

Last year, Brand averaged 18.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals on one leg. As great as he is, Brand is still underrated. Expect a slight drop in production as opponents will be able to double-team Brand without having to worry about a presence like Olowokandi cleaning up the offensive glass.