Re-Branding Gone Wrong

Philadelphia, PA - (The Phanatic Magazine) - The strange saga of Philadelphia 76ers power forward Elton Brand is over, at least for this season.

Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski officially announced that Brand would miss
the rest of the 2008-09 season before the team's game with Indiana on
Thursday.

The Sixers' prized free agent acquisition has been scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery next Monday to repair a torn labrum.

"Elton wanted to do whatever he could to get back on the court and initially
elected to forgo surgery in order to help his teammates," Stefanski said. "He
worked as hard as he could over the past six weeks to return; however, the
scope of the injury would not allow it."

This marks the second straight year that Brand will miss nearly all of the
season, as he played in only eight games last year for the Los Angeles
Clippers due to a serious Achilles injury

Stefanski downplayed the idea of his marquee acquisition, who originally
dislocated the shoulder on December 17 when he hit the floor hard after being
upended by Milwaukee's Luc Mbah a Moute, being injury prone.

"I have heard people say that," Stefanski said, "but I don't see it." "I am
prejudice obviously but anybody was going to get hurt on that play."

Brand returned from the injury and looked sharp when scoring 12 points in a
win over the Houston Rockets last week but it was a mirage. He was awful as
the Sixers collapsed down the stretch against New Jersey and went scoreless on
Tuesday while wearing a brace against Boston.

At halftime of the Celtics game the scope of Brand's injury began to emerge
when he told the training staff that his shoulder had stiffened up, but could
play if necessary. Coach Tony DiLeo went the cautious route and decided to use
both Reggie Evans and rookie Marreese Speights instead.

On Wednesday, Brand missed practice and the Sixers said he underwent an MRI,
which showed that the injury was healing properly. The team even issued an
injury update saying Brand was day-to-day but "expected to play vs. the
Pacers."

Fast forward to Thursday and it was learned that the MRI was viewed only by a
technician and Brand had yet to see his doctor. Meanwhile, his agent, David
Falk, arrived in Philadelphia.

The MRI results were then viewed by both Sixers team physician Dr. Jack
McPhilemy and Dr. Craig Morgan of the Morgan-Kalman Clinic in Wilmington, DE,
where Brand will have his surgery.

The doctors concluded that the initial tear of the labrum was unstable and
had considerably decreased Brand’s range of motion.

"It was progressing well for a normal person that has to go to work like you
and me," Stefanski said. "Not for an NBA player."

Stefanski called the first six weeks of Brand’s treatment "conservative."

"We went with the conservative approach that could get him back without
surgery," Stefanski said. "I feel sorry for Elton. He worked extremely hard to
rehab this thing. It didn't hurt anything. If he underwent surgery when he was
originally hurt, he would have missed the rest of the season."

Brand signed a lucrative five-year, $80 million deal in the offseason to join
the Sixers and has largely been a disappointment, as Philadelphia has posted
only a 23-24 record amid large expectations.

Since returning from his 16-game absence, Brand has been pedestrian,
averaging just 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 18 minutes during six games..

So where does Brand's absence leave the Sixers?

"We will look at all available options," Stefanski said. "But I don't see
anyone that can fit in like Marreese (Speights) or Reggie (Evans). We are
fortunate. We knew what we had in Reggie and Speights is a very good player
with a huge upside. This is a terrific opportunity for guys to step up."

Asked if he still expected his team to make the playoffs, Stefanski was glib
but honest.

"I put that on Tony (DiLeo)," Stefanski said. "But, we better. I think we are
a playoff team even without Elton. Everyone has injuries. Andre (Iguodala) is
playing at a very high level. It's his team and he has taken on the
responsibility."