Elton Brand Out For Season

by Ryne Nelson

I don’t believe in karma, but I admit there are times when it seems pretty damn real. Now is one of those times.

Before Brand dislocated his right shoulder Dec. 17, he was averaging just 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. He was like a wrench in the Sixers’ system, and not the missing piece to the Sixers’ machine. Phil Jasner of the Philly Daily News has the report:

Sixers forward Elton Brand is out for the season and will have shoulder surgery as early as Monday, a team source confirmed for the Daily News.

The injury is bad news for Brand, but what’s worse is his injury actually makes the Sixers a better team. Andre Iguodala, who clearly struggled with his new role, has flourished as the team’s No. 1 option. They’re moving up the court quicker, playing better defense and using their athleticism to its full advantage. They’re far from contenders, but the team just seems better without Brand.

Not to say the Sixers can’t work it out with Brand next season, but it seems like snatching the summer’s biggest free agent fish from out the Clippers’ net has come back to bite them.