Monday, July 15, 2013

Hawks sign ex-Sixer Elton Brand

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks have signed veteran forward/center Elton Brand.



Brand, 34, tallied 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 assists in 21.2 minutes per game (.473 FG percentage, .710 FT percentage)  in 72 games (18 starting assignments) last season with the Dallas Mavericks, his first season in north Texas after being amnestied by Philadelphia.

“Elton brings a veteran presence both on and off the court and is a welcomed addition to our locker room,” Atlanta President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry said.  “His ability to play center or power forward will give our frontcourt a great deal of versatility and we think he will be an outstanding fit to our program.”

The 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brand has played in 932 career games (848 starts) over his 14-year career with Chicago, L.A. Clippers, the Sixers and Dallas, putting up 17.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 blocks in 35.2 minutes.  He ranks second among active NBA players in offensive rebounds (3,170), fifth in blocks (1,707), seventh in total rebounds (8,516), 14th in field goals made (6,347) and 17th in points (16,242).

A two-time NBA All-Star (2002 and 2006), Brand owns 404 career double-doubles and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2005-06.  Additionally, he won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2006 and is a two-time divisional winner (2004 and 2007).

Brand has also seen action in 30 career playoff games, averaging 16.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 blocks in 35.3 minutes.

The No. 1 overall pick by Chicago in the 1999 NBA Draft as an early entry candidate following a decorated two-year career at Duke, Brand shared the Rookie of the Year Award with Steve Francis while being named to the league’s All-Rookie First Team.  He declared for the draft after being the consensus National Player of the Year and leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Championship Game.

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