Hawks and Knicks express interest in Elton Brand

[coachx]

https://twitter.com/ajchawks?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fhangtime.blogs.nba.com%2F2014%2F07%2F01%2F2014-free-agency-day-1%2F&tw_i=484029088395698176&tw_p=tweetembed

 

I personally really like Brand as a back up center for the veterans minimum contract. He has the length of many 7 footers and played very well for us last season.

 

His 7'6'' wingspan and 9'2'' standing reach allows him to play the center position just fine. 

 

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Edited July 1, 2014 by coachx
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[capstone21]

I would have him back...great locker room guy too

[willthepureshooter]

I would pass. Brand was non-existant during the playoffs.

[Jizzle]

We don't need him !

Why are we going after all these PF

Love

Monroe

Brand

When we have

Al

Sap

Scott

Payne

Moose

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Admin]

Sorry guys this is just Viviana reporting that we had interest last year. He's just now caught up to that. 

[benhillboy]

Where was the interest in the playoffs when Pero was playing like dogsh$t. I really like Elton. Just not for us. We have enough coaching here, the Knicks need him much more. Sometimes these alliances with coaching trees and collegiate alum take it too far. What next, we going after Boozer after he's amnestied?

[Admin]

Where was the interest in the playoffs when Pero was playing like dogsh$t. I really like Elton. Just not for us. We have enough coaching here, the Knicks need him much more. Sometimes these alliances with coaching trees and collegiate alum take it too far. What next, we going after Boozer after he's amnestied?

 

Who else we have at C? We've got an injured Horford and a guy in Antić who should be a specialist at best. I'be thrilled to bring Elton back for 1 year at around 2 million or so.

[coachx]

Who else we have at C? We've got an injured Horford and a guy in Antić who should be a specialist at best. I'be thrilled to bring Elton back for 1 year at around 2 million or so.

Agree...........you will be hard pressed to find Center on the market, as good as Brand, for the vet's minimum.

 

I think folks just like to bitch.

[Admin]

People don't appreciate how good of a year Brand actually had for us last year, compared to what we've had at C behind Horford.
 

I like Zaza and do miss him but you definitely need to appreciate EB more.  He actually had the 3rd highest offensive and defensive ratings on our team this year, although those are flawed since he played fewer minutes than most of our players at only 20 mpg, which isn't bad though for someone who's been in the league forever.  He had the 3rd highest defensive win shares as well, behind Millsap and DMC.  Win shares per 48?  Of course 3rd best there as well.  Total rebound % was 4th but that's only because Dexter Pittman and his 3 minutes played are #1, but take him out and you've got Ayón, Horford and then Brand.  Block % he was far and away #1 at almost 5%. 
 
Check out the 2014 comparison between Brand and Zaza, where Brand wins every category. 
 
Brand (2014)
 
MPG - 19.4
TS% - .561
TRB% - 14.8
Block% - 4.9
ORating - 110 (higher is better - 100 is average)
DRating - 103 (lower is better - 100 is average)
WS - 3.6
WS/48 - .121
 
Zaza (2014)
 
MPG - 25.0
TS% - .502
TRB% - 14.4
Block% - 0.9
ORating - 105 (higher is better - 100 is average)
DRating - 111 (lower is better - 100 is average)
WS - 1.7
WS/48 - .060
 
In fact, you gotta go find Zaza's career best year to find a season in which he compared with EB this year. 
 
Brand (2014)
 
MPG - 19.4
TS% - .561
TRB% - 14.8
Block% - 4.9
ORating - 110 (higher is better - 100 is average)
DRating - 103 (lower is better - 100 is average)
WS - 3.6
WS/48 - .121
 
Zaza (2007 - career best year)
 
MPG - 28.1
TS% - .562
TRB% - 14.9
Block% - 1.4
ORating - 108 (higher is better - 100 is average)
DRating - 106 (lower is better - 100 is average)
WS - 4.8
WS/48 - .114

[LamarHampton]

Bring him back!

[LamarHampton]

People don't appreciate how good of a year Brand actually had for us last year, compared to what we've had at C behind Horford.

Don't let @Colin see this!!! Love Zaza but Brand def better.

[capstone21]

Its also more then the performance on the court.  He brings veteran leadership/presence to the bench and locker room.  

[GameTime]

Its also more then the performance on the court.  He brings veteran leadership/presence to the bench and locker room.  

 

Hire him as an assistant coach.

[capstone21]

Hire him as an assistant coach.

We can do that too when he is ready to retire.  However, sometimes you need that veteran guidance from another player not coach

[AHF]

I am not completely on board with this.  If you are filling a spot for $4M like Brand got last year, that player should be able to actually play in the playoffs.  DMC at $2.5M averaged 35 minutes.  Elton averaged 11 minutes when we were missing our starting center and our backup center was playing terrrribly.  That is 9th most on the team behind at least 3 guys getting $1M or less.  

 

That signals to me that the coaches don't trust him to actually play important minutes.  If that is the case, is resigning him really the best use of $4M?

 

I don't have a problem with his regular season productivity.  He was solid then.

[Colin]

Just remember. Trade back for Zaza and Colin makes his return as well. 2-for-1 deal.

[DrReality]

Depends who else we sign.  His presence is more beneficial than his play?

[BrazilianHawk]

Bring him back, but release Antić. Jordan Hill will fill his spot.

 

Eh... we can still release Antić, oder?

Edited July 2, 2014 by BrazilianHawk

[mrhonline]

Bring him back, but release Antić.

 

My thoughts, too. Brand for vet min and release Antić.

[AHF]

My thoughts, too. Brand for vet min and release Antić.

 

If Brand goes that cheap, then it makes all the sense in the world.  I just don't know that you can invest another 4M in a player who won't be a part of the playoff rotation.